THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 


I  can  see  her  now,  her  fine  eyes  wide  open  in  surprise,  her  beautiful  hair 
streaming  over  her  shoulders 


THE 

SPUR  OF  DANGER 

BY 

C.  C.  HOTCHKISS 


AUTHOR  OF 

THE  RED  PAPER,  ETC 


ILLUSTRATIONS  BY 

WILL   GREFE 


NEW  YORK 

GROS5ET   &   DUNLAP 

PUBLISHERS 


COPYRIGHT,  1915,  BY 
W.  J.  WATT  &  COMPANY 


STACK 
ANNEX 

fs 


his 

CONTENTS 

PART  ONE 

PAGE 

JUDGE  EVERS     ......     .:    ;.:     .  i 

THE  OPENING  .....     ...  13 

AT  THE  WHITE  HORSE     .     .     .,     .      .  22 

JACOB  MOON    ......     .     .  33 

DEVIL  DARCY   .....  ,    -.,    w     .  40 

A  REVELATION  .....     .     .     .53 

SQUIRE  DENCH      .......  67 

EAVESDROPPING       .......  81 

AT  CLOSE  RANGE  .......  go 

IMMURED     .......  96 

"  'TwixT  DEVIL  AND  DEEP  "  .     .  109 
THE  BLACK  WATER    .     .     .     .     .     .125 

UNCERTAINTY   .....  ,    ..,     .     .  139 

ON  BUNKER  HILL      ...'.,:    -.;     .  147 

AT  CLOSE  RANGE  .                                  ,  160 


PART  TWO 

XVI    THE  HOUND     .     .     .     . 

XVII    THE  PASSING  OF  O'HARA 

XVIII    JUDGE  EVERS  REDIVIVUS  . 


173 
186 
198 


CHAPTER 
XIX 

XX 

XXI 

XXII 

XXIII 

XXIV 

XXV 

XXVI 

XXVII 


CONTENTS 

PAGE 

THE  SECRET  ROOM      .  ,.  ,.i  i«;  :.:  .  206 

ALIAS  CAPTAIN  BUSSEL  .  ..-  M  ;.  .215 

THIN  ICE    .     .     .     .,  c.  ,.;  ;,  ...  ,.  237 

MOON  EMERGES    -.     .:  .  ,..  ,.;  .,  .  250 


A  GREEN  HAND 
THE  MILL 
FIRE       .     .     . 
CAPTAIN  HICKS 
THE  CLIMAX    . 


262 
271 
287 
296 
303 


THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 


THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

PART  I 
CHAPTER  I 

JUDGE   EVERS 

"1  TATS  off  to  his  honor,  the  judge  of  the 
I  I  king's  assize!  "  So  rang  out  the  call 
-*-  -*•  of  the  bailiff,  and  at  the  same  time  I 
heard  the  rustle  of  the  judge's  silken  robe  as  he 
entered  the  court-room  through  the  side  door. 
But  among  the  entire  assembly  I  doubt  if  half  a 
dozen  hats  came  off.  Those  of  us  who  were  aware 
of  what  was  in  the  wind  remained  covered,  though 
it  took  more  than  common  courage  to  thus  fly  into 
the  face  of  an  honorable  custom. 

It  was  a  tense  moment  to  me,  ringleader  as  I 
was,  but  being  sure  of  my  backing  and  the  temper 
of  my  fellow  townsmen,  I  did  not  abate  an  atom  of 
determination.  With  the  bailiff's  words  my  cue 
was  given  me.  I  looked  around  for  my  father,  but 
he  was  not  present,  being  wise,  and  having  an  ink 
ling  of  what  was  toward,  and  so  I  carried  out  the 


2  THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

program  allotted  me.  Raising  my  voice  so  that 
it  might  not  be  unheard  throughout  the  room,  I 
shouted: 

"  Any  man  who  takes  off  his  hat  in  this  court 
will  be  considered  an  enemy  to  the  colonies !  " 

Of  course  Justice  Evers  heard  this  as  plainly 
as  any  one  else,  but  without  a  hitch  to  his  dignity 
he  went  on  his  way  to  the  bench  as  if  he  had  heard 
nothing,  though  his  thin  lips  were  twitching  as  he 
took  his  seat  with  grave  deliberation.  A  porten 
tous  silence  fell  on  the  gathering,  and  for  a  moment 
nothing  could  be  heard  save  a  slight  shuffling  of 
feet  on  the  bare  floor,  hardly  noise  enough  to 
drown  the  tick  of  the  great  clock  over  the  dais. 
No  court  of  law  within  his  majesty's  realm  had 
ever  been  thus  flouted. 

But  something  of  it  must  have  been  foreseen  by 
Judge  Evers,  unless  he  was  wholly  a  fool.  It  had 
been  a  cold  welcome  that  had  met  him  when  he 
drove  up  to  the  tavern  the  day  before,  he  and  his 
clerk,  the  high  chaise  lurching  in  the  frozen  ruts 
of  the  road.  Not  a  cold  welcome  because  only 
the  weather  was  bitter  and  there  was  none  to  mark 
his  arrival;  for  a  goodly  gathering  was  about  the 
tavern  waiting  for  him,  though  when  his  clerk 
descended  from  the  vehicle  and  assisted  my  lord  of 
the  king's  assize  to  the  ground,  where  he  stood 
looking  at  the  crowd  in  distant,  high-nosed  pride, 
not  a  hand  was  held  out  to  him,  not  a  voice  was 
lifted,  not  a  forward  step  taken  by  one  of  the 


JUDGE  EVERS  3 

waiting  townsmen,  and  we  are  a  substantial 
people. 

Now,  let  it  be  known  that  we  of  Harrington, 
like  others  of  the  towns  about  us,  were  a  law- 
abiding  community,  fearing  God  and  strictly 
attending  to  our  own  affairs,  the  right  having  been 
granted  by  charter  long  before  George  III.  had 
been  either  born  or  thought  of,  and  for  that  mat 
ter,  neither  had  his  father  before  him.  But  when 
his  majesty  took  from  us  our  ancient  privileges 
and  through  the  governor  removed  our  duly 
elected  judges  for  creatures  of  his  own  to  be  paid 
from  his  own  purse,  the  blood  of  every  self- 
respecting  colonist  began  to  riot,  and  that  heat, 
heightened  by  other  causes,  had  grown  and  spread 
until  the  whole  political  pot  was  nigh  to  boiling 
over.  And  so,  no  emissary  of  his  majesty's  might 
look  for  a  public  welcome  throughout  the  length 
and  breadth  of  Massachusetts. 

Judge  Evers  stood  in  the  biting  March  wind  for 
a  moment,  one  hand  drawing  his  flapping  cloak 
about  him,  the  other  holding  on  his  cocked  hat; 
but  no  man  offering  to  assist  him,  and  neither  mine 
host,  Bailing,  nor  even  the  hostler,  appearing,  his 
honor  let  go  something  I  thought  was  an  oath, 
and,  his  horse  being  finally  hitched,  he  set  his  thin, 
blue  lips  and  marched  up  the  tavern  steps,  the 
silent  crowd  opening  to  let  him  and  his  clerk  go 
through.  Had  not  the  man  been  a  fatuous  ass  he 
would  have  scented  the  brewing  storm  and  climbed 


4  THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

back  into  his  chaise  to  be  driven  elsewhere,  for  in 
any  other  town  he  were  safer  than  in  Barrington, 
the  home  of  my  father,  Judge  Darcy,  the  late 
occupant  of  the  bench  who  had  been  deposed  by 
Gage,  though  he  had  been  the  choice  of  the  people 
for  term  after  term. 

I  stood  by  the  tavern  door  as  the  obsequious 
clerk  opened  it  for  his  high  and  mightiness,  and  in 
the  hall  the  judge  came  face  to  face  with  my  father, 
who  as  his  predecessor  was  properly  waiting  for 
him,  but  who  would  not  advance  one  step  over  the 
threshold  to  greet  him.  I  can  see  the  whole 
group  now:  my  father  In  his  snowy  wig,  his  long 
coat,  his  small-clothes  of  plum-colored  plush,  and 
his  cloak  over  one  arm,  standing  tall  and  dignified 
as  he  waited,  hat  in  hand ;  and  Judge  Evers,  look 
ing  like  a  child  beside  him,  all  in  black  save  for  his 
powdered  wig,  his  temper  showing  in  his  sharp 
nose  and  snapping  black  eyes.  Behind  him  stood 
his  clerk  with  a  portmantle  and  a  black  bag,  and 
the  half-dozen  men  who  had  crowded  after  me 
into  the  wide  hall.  My  father  took  one  step  for 
ward  and  held  out  his  hand. 

'This  is  Mr.  Justice  Evers?"  he  said,  pleas 
antly  enough,  but  I  noticed  his  face  was  very 
serious,  though  for  that  matter  he  had  not  laughed 
since  the  death  of  my  mother,  ten  years  before. 

"  I  am  Justice  Evers,  sir,"  returned  the  smaller 
man,  with  a  snap  to  each  word.  "  And  I  take  it, 
you  are  Judge  Darcy."  He  said  this  loftily  and 


JUDGE  EVERS  5 

after  a  perfunctory  shake  of  my  father's  hand,  but 
without  removing  his  hat.  My  father  immedi 
ately  covered  his  head,  and  was  followed  suit  by 
every  man  in  the  hall  save  the  clerk,  for  we  had 
uncovered  as  we  entered.  The  newcomer  was 
not  blind  to  the  act.  He  swelled  visibly.  "  I. 
wish  to  protest  at  this  deliberate  show  of  dis 
respect  toward  a  king's  justice !  "  he  said,  in  a 
voice  that  trembled.  "  I  wish  to  protest  against 
this  damnable  reception!  I  come  here  to  admin 
ister  the  law  and  am  treated  like  an  insolvent 
farmer;  I,  a  judge  of  the  king's  bench!  Not 
even  the  landlord  appears  to  welcome  me,  nor  a 
hostler  to  do  me  service !  What  is  behind  this, 
sir?" 

"  Did  you  not  receive  my  letter  of  warning, 
Judge  Evers?"  asked  my  father,  looking  down 
at  the  man  before  him,  his  mild  blue  eyes  taking 
on  an  expression  at  which,  as  a  boy,  I  had  often 
trembled. 

"  I  did,  sir  —  I  did.  And  had  it  not  been  well 
intended  I  would  cite  the  writer  before  me  and 
commit  him  at  once  for  contempt  —  for  con 
tempt,  sir." 

My  father  did  not  move,  but  something  passed 
over  his  face  the  like  of  which  I  had  never  seen. 
I  looked  for  an  explosion,  but  no  such  thing  was 
forthcoming  from  him;  instead,  with  his  glance 
still  fixed  on  the  pompous  little  man,  he  returned 
very  quietly: 


6  THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

"  Sir,  if  you  will  follow  my  present  advice,  also 
well  intended,  you  will  not  attempt  to  hold  court 
in  this  town  to-morrow.  You  must  be  aware  that 
in  all  directions  the  royal  power  is  denied,  and 
that  your  decrees  would  not  be  respected,  even  if 
nothing  worse  befall.  Were  you  wise  you  would 
leave  Harrington  to-night." 

I  thought  that  Evers'  clerk,  who  stood  behind 
his  master,  was  about  to  fall  to  the  floor,  for  he 
dropped  the  portmantle  and  fairly  staggered  back. 

"By  the  glory  of  the  king,  sir,  this  is  construc 
tive  treason !  "  exclaimed  Evers.  "  Not  hold 
court !  Neglect  my  duty  through  fear  I  By  God, 
sir,  you  forget  that  as  a  king's  justice  I  have  the 
king's  forces  behind  me !  Let  me  but  scent  vio 
lence  and  Gage  shall  know  of  it!  " 

My  father  smiled.  It  made  the  little  man 
bristle. 

"  I  mean  it,  sir!  With  a  couple  of  regiments 
Gage  could  sweep  Massachusetts  from  end  to  end 
and  punish  its  inhabitants  without  the  loss  of  a 
man !  Who  is  there  in  this  town  dare  lift  a  hand 
against  an  appointed  judge?" 

"  You  are  beside  yourself,  Judge  Evers,"  re 
turned  my  father,  "  and,  moreover,  here  is  no 
place  for  a  discussion  of  this  nature." 

"You  are  right!"  was  the  irascible  reply,  as 
the  little  judge  wheeled  on  his  cowering  clerk. 
"  Dilly,  search  out  the  landlord  of  this  tavern  and 
demand  proper  quarters.  We  have  found  our- 


JUDGE  EVERS  7 

self  in  an  uncivilized  community  —  in  a  swarming 
nest  of  open  rebels  that  might  out-treason  those  of 
Boston!  Gage  shall  be  informed  —  by  gad,  he 
shall!" 

My  father  made  no  reply,  but  with  an  expres 
sion  of  infinite  contempt  threw  his  cloak  over  his 
shoulders  and,  with  a  surprised  glance  at  seeing 
me  present,  left  the  house.  I  followed  him. 
How  well  Judge  Evers  slept  that  night  I  know  not, 
being  deeply  engaged  with  a  number  of  my  towns 
men  at  the  house  of  one  of  them  and  not  getting 
home  until  late;  but  if  he  did  sleep  it  was  because 
he  was  proof  against  the  hootings  that  came  from 
beneath  his  window,  and  against  the  noise  of  un 
usual  revelry  which  swelled  from  the  bar  of  the 
tavern.  So,  though  he  was  plucky  enough,  surely 
the  man,  puffed  up  though  he  was,  could  not  have 
been  unprepared  for  the  scene  in  court. 

But  we  of  the  town  —  or  most  of  us  —  were 
prepared. 

For  all  my  confidence  I  felt  the  enormity  of  the 
thing  I  had  done  as  well  as  the  thing  I  yet  had  to 
do;  and  there  was  a  catch  in  my  throat  as  I  real 
ized  the  stubbornness,  or  perhaps  spirit,  of  the 
man  who  had  taken  his  seat  and  now  leaned  for 
ward  on  his  desk  and  quietly  flashed  his  black  eyes 
over  the  defiant  crowd  beneath  him.  The  hand 
ful  of  bewigged  lawyers,  all  of  whom  were 
strangers  in  town,  had  been  arranging  their  papers 
before  the  judge  entered,  but  at  my  call  they  drew 


8  THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

together  as  if  they  were  suddenly  alive  to  a  dan 
ger.  His  honor  waited  as  if  weighing  his  words, 
then  he  spoke,  and  there  was  suppression  in  his 
voice  as  he  said: 

'  This  court  is  not  deaf.  It  heard  the  remark 
—  the  defiance  of  some  one  representing  the  re 
bellious  part  of  this  community;  and  he  seems 
prepared  to  defy  the  king  through  his  justice.  It 
shall  not  be  tolerated,  but  before  proceeding 
further  in  this  matter  I  demand  that  every  hat  be 
removed  in  honor  of  his  majesty's  court  of  law." 

I  noticed  one  or  two  hands  lift,  but  they  came 
down  again  without  uncovering — all  but  one  — 
the  hand  of  Ike  Manners,  the  town  fool,  who  took 
off  the  hat  he  wore  and  gave  vent  to  a  sudden 
hysterical  laugh  that  sounded  loudly  through  the 
silent  room. 

Judge  Evers'  pale  face  —  pale  save  for  his 
thin,  blue  jaw,  turned  livid.  If  he  had  then  and 
there  adjourned  court  and  formally  deprived  us 
of  process  of  law  during  his  circuit  he  would  have 
been  within  his  rights  and  done  much  to  spike  our 
guns;  but  instead,  being  a  man  of  more  bravery 
than  sense,  he  shot  out  his  hand  and  pointing  to 
Ike,  who  in  his  lack  of  wit  would  laugh  at  a 
funeral  sooner  than  at  a  joke,  he  thundered: 

"Bailiff,  bring  that  man  before  me!  These 
people  need  an  example !  " 

And  the  bailiff,  with  his  staff  of  office  in  his 
hand,  got  command  of  his  legs,  and  taking  the 


JUDGE  EVERS  9 

unresisting  Ike  by  the  shoulder  pushed  him  to  the 
bar,  and  no  man  interfered  to  stop  him.  Man 
ners,  with  his  knees  trembling,  stood  looking 
vacantly  around,  his  feeble  mouth  half-open  in  a 
semi-idiotic  smile.  I  knew  that  now  something 
was  expected  of  me;  but  I  waited,  meanwhile 
getting  a  grip  on  myself. 

"  Fellow,"  said  Evers,  wagging  a  menacing 
forefinger  at  the  thoroughly  frightened  Ike,  "  you 
have  chosen,  abetted  by  some  of  your  kind,  to 
insult  your  king  through  me,  his  officer.  For  that 
I  commit  you  to  the  common  jail  for  thirty  days." 
Then  his  honor  stood  up  and  drew  his  slim  figure 
to  its  full  height.  "  And  each  and  every  man  in 
this  room  who  does  not  instantly  remove  his  hat 
I  will  commit  for  contempt  of  court  for  the  same 
period.  Bailiff,  lock  the  doors  of  this  room." 

By  then  my  time  had  come  and  I  knew  that  nigh 
every  eye  in  the  townhall  was  looking  at  me  ex 
pectantly.  If  ever  a  man  was  urged  it  was  I,  and 
I  usually  need  no  urging  in  any  matter  I  undertake. 
Detaching  myself  from  the  crowd,  I  stepped  into 
the  space  before  the  bench  and  by  the  side  of  the 
scared  Ike. 

"  Judge  Evers,  you  may  begin  on  me,  if  you 
like,"  I  said,  lifting  my  hand  and  settling  my  hat 
firmly  on  my  head.  "  Here  I  stand  covered. 
Commit  me,  as  you  will,  and  then  get  your  sentence 
carried  out;  ay,  even  show  the  commitment 
paper.  We  care  nothing  for  your  words.  You 


io  THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

are  no  judge  of  ours.  You  were  warned  that  you 
would  be  resisted  in  Barrington,  and  now  we  say 
that  no  court  shall  be  here  held  save  by  a  justice 
selected  by  our  people.  Such  an  one  may  com 
mand  our  respect." 

I  said  this  quietly  enough,  having  the  night  be 
fore  rehearsed  the  substance  of  it  when  I  had  been 
selected  to  deliver  this  valedictory  (perhaps  be 
cause  of  my  bigness  of  body)  and  open  the  ball. 

And  the  ball  was  now  open.  The  bailiff,  who 
was  on  his  way  to  the  door,  stopped  short  and 
listened  open-mouthed;  the  little  clerk  turned 
pale;  Judge  Evers  looked  at  me  from  head  to 
foot,  and  I  think  that  then  he  for  the  first  time 
realized  the  depth  to  which  the  thing  had  gone. 

"  What  is  your  name,  you  son  of  Anak?  "  he 
demanded,  and  I  could  not  help  thinking  of  Judge 
Jeffries,  of  the  "  bloody  assize  "  as  I  looked  at 
his  gleaming  eyes. 

"  Allen  Darcy,  sir." 

"  Ha !  The  son  of  Judge  Darcy,  late  of  the 
kings'  bench?  " 

"  I  am." 

"  By  God,  I  might  have  surmised  it  —  and  all 
the  rest.  The  animus  of  this  rebellious  proceed 
ing  is  now  plain.  My  predecessor  resents  the  loss 
of  his  seat  and  thinks  that  the  size  of  his  son  may 
intimidate  us.  Ay,  I  saw  something  of  it  in  his 
attitude  yesterday.  This  shall  be  probed  and  he 
be  made  to  suffer  with  you.  I  shall  order  him 


JUDGE  EVERS  n 

brought  before  us  and  shall  commit  him,  also,  sir. 
I  shall  teach  him  that  jealousy — " 

He  got  no  farther,  for  his  reference  to  my 
parent  (who  had  but  a  small  idea  of  what  was 
toward)  maddened  me.  He  would  commit  my 
father,  would  he!  I  took  a  stride  forward  and 
reaching  over  the  desk  seized  the  man  by  the  front 
of  his  silk  robe. 

"  Come  from  the  bench,  thou  unjust  judge !  "  I 
cried,  and  without  great  exertion  I  dragged  him 
from  the  dais  and  on  to  the  floor  in  front  of  the 
bar.  At  the  same  moment  hands  were  laid  on  the 
bailiff,  the  clerk's  pen  was  torn  from  him  and  his 
papers  dashed  to  the  floor.  All  was  confusion  in 
an  instant.  Court  attendants,  scenting  more 
trouble,  dug  into  the  crowd  and  were  lost  to  sight, 
and  a  babel  of  noise  took  the  place  of  the  recent 
quiet.  Through  the  muss  and  excitement  I  stood 
holding  fast  to  Justice  Evers.  At  last  I  saw  that 
things  were  getting  beyond  me.  I  bent  my  mouth 
to  the  ear  of  my  prisoner. 

"  Sir,"  said  I,  "  this,  to  you,  smacks  of  unseemly 
conduct,  and  so  it  is.  But  you  now  know  the  tem 
per  of  these  people  for  whom  I  was  selected  to 
act.  As  for  yourself,  beyond  your  office,  I  have^- 
no  feeling,  and  so  will  go  so  far  as  to  say  that  if 
you  dare  ascend  the  bench  in  Harrington  or  put 
into  writing  any  degree  or  commitment,  you  will 
forever  regret  it.  And  more,  sir.  If  you  and 
your  followers  are  not  beyond  the  town  limits  by 


12  THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

sunset  this  day  I  fear  me  a  coat  of  tar-and-feathers 
will  take  the  place  of  other  covering,  and  you  will 
take  your  departure  astride  a  rail.  My  father, 
whom  you  would  commit,  knows  nothing  of  what 
was  intended.  He  warned  you  once,  having  heard 
mutterings,  and  now  you  are  warned  by  his  son. 
Go." 

So  saying  I  pushed  him  into  the  hall  and  loos 
ened  my  hold  on  him,  motioning  back  those  who 
crowded  around.  Never  a  word  of  threat  or 
anything  else  did  the  little  man  return,  now  being 
really  frightened;  but  he  gathered  up  his  torn 
gown,  and  giving  me  a  fiery  glance  I  shall  not  soon 
forget,  fled  from  the  building.  We  let  him  go. 

He  went  from  town  by  noon  that  day,  bound 
for  I  know  not  where,  and  little  did  I  dream  I 
would  ever  see  him  again;  but  when  I  did,  God 
wot  things  were  very  different  than  upon  that 
windy  day  in  March. 


CHAPTER  II 

THE   OPENING 

SPRING  came  with  a  rush  in  the  year  of 
grace,  1775;  but  I  thought  little  of  the 
weather,  the  time  being  agog  with  the  prom 
ise  of  great  events.  Affairs  in  Barrington  moved 
quietly,  even  sluggishly,  and  without  much  form 
of  law.  Our  ears  were  trimmed  for  news  from 
the  east,  though  what  we  heard  from  Boston 
drifted  to  us  like  a  faint  echo  and  hardly  disturbed 
us  slumbering  among  the  Berkshire  hills.  If  the 
Governor-General,  Gage,  was  awake  to  what  we 
had  done  to  Judge  Evers  he  had  taken  no  action, 
neither  had  we  heard  of  or  from  the  doughty  little 
justice  since  the  day  I  dragged  him  from  the  bench. 
And  now  it  was  past  mid-April.  The  land  was 
big  with  its  promise  of  early  spring  and  the  woods, 
usually  bleak  and  bare  until  after  May  has  come, 
were  filled  with  the  odor  of  the  earth  and  the  ten 
derness  of  swelling  buds,  and  the  scent  of  arbutus. 
Something  in  the  softening  air  stirred  me  to  be 
up  and  doing  instead  of  taking  the  days  as  they 
came  and  lolling  in  the  growing  heat  of  the  noon 
sun, 

13 


I4  THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

But  I  had  no  taste  for  my  father's  profession, 
caring  less  for  Law  than  for  Justice  and  consider 
ing  it  strange  that  the  two  were  not  always  found 
hand  in  hand.  Nor  did  I  know  exactly  what  I 
wished  save  to  get  from  the  town  in  which  I 
seemed  wasting  my  life  and  the  education  I  had 
received  at  Harvard. 

Not  that  I  felt  superior  to  my  fellows,  save, 
perhaps,  in  brawn,  but  that  my  blood  was  all  for 
action  and  my  eyes  for  a  wider  horizon  than  that 
of  hill-encompassed  Harrington,  home  though  it 
was.  It  was  the  discontent  of  a  young  man,  the 
longing  of  a  dreamer;  and  yet  I  was  no  dreamer. 

Now,  I  had  taken  stock  of  myself  and  knew  at 
least  what  I  did  not  wish  to  become.  First,  I  am 
no  patient  plodder.  As  I  have  said,  the  Law 
held  no  attraction  for  me,  and  as  for  the  Ministry 
I  fear  me  that  my  breadth  of  opinion  would  for 
ever  bar  me  from  the  pulpit.  The  Army?  What 
army  could  I  join  save  that  of  England?  and  I 
hated  England  and  things  English  although  an 
English  subject.  A  pedagogue?  God  forbid! 
I  lacked  the  essential  of  patience  with  stupidity. 

And  so,  there  was  nothing  left  for  me  but  medi 
cine,  and,  as  I  thought  of  it,  it  seemed  that  nothing 
could  be  nobler  than  its  profession,  tinctured,  as 
it  is,  by  all  the  other  professions.  My  bent  lay 
there  if  anywhere,  and  I  had  spoken  of  it  to  my 
father  though  he  had  said  little  to  encourage  me. 
No  way  was  clear  in  any  line ;  I  felt  I  was  rusting 


THE  OPENING  15 

out;  and  though  my  father  was  a  wealthy  man,  as 
men  go,  and  I  was  his  sole  heir,  it  galled  me  to  be 
eating  his  bread  at  my  age  and  making  no  return 
therefor. 

But  my  hour  struck  at  last;  for  one  day  after  he 
had  been  closeted  with  a  stranger,  whom  I  did  not 
even  see,  my  father  called  me  to  his  study,  a*nd  I 
knew  by  the  expression  of  his  face  that  something 
had  happened  or  was  about  to  happen.  When  I 
went  into  the  book-lined  room  the  first  things  I 
saw  were  two  letters  lying  on  the  table  —  two 
letters  sealed  —  and  both  were  addressed  to 
Samuel  Adams,  Esq.,  of  Boston.  I  seated  my 
self  and  waited  for  what  was  coming. 

"  Allen,"  said  my  father,  "  I  have  long  seen 
your  dissatisfaction  at  your  present  mode  of  life; 
until  now  I  have  been  unable  to  secure  a  substitute 
for  it  that  would  meet  with  your  wishes  or  mine. 
But  matters  are  now  ripe  for  action.  I  am  going 
to  send  you  to  Boston  at  once.  I  have  made  ar 
rangements  with  Doctor  Joseph  Warren  for  you 
to  call  upon  him  and  if  possible  make  arrange 
ments  to  enter  his  office  and  learn  his  profession. 
Only  this  morning  the  post  brought  his  definite  con 
sent  to  my  proposal.  I  know  you  will  second  me 
in  this." 

I  caught  my  breath  sharply.  "  Ay,"  I  re 
turned;  then  something,  perhaps  of  the  future, 
suddenly  oppressed  me  and  I  got  no  farther. 

"  It   seems   that   Doctor  Warren   is  well   ac- 


1 6  THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

quainted  with  your  desperate  exploit,"  continued 
my  parent,  "  and  commends  you  for  it;  it  has 
influenced  him  in  your  favor.  But  the  times  are 
askew,  Allen.  The  embargo  on  Boston  has  about 
ruined  the  city,  and  I  fear  that  the  doctor  can  give 
you  as  little  attention  as  he  does  his  practice;  he 
has  just  been  commissioned  a  general  by  congress. 
However,  you  are  to  see  him  and  make  arrange 
ments  for  the  future." 

"Thank  Heaven!"  I  ejaculated,  for  I  had 
never  dared  to  look  as  high  as  Doctor  Warren. 
"  And  does  he  say  anything  of  affairs  in  Boston?  " 

"  It  is  quiet  enough  on  the  surface,  the  doctor 
writes;  but  he  says  that  while  all  may  seem  stag 
nant  there  is  a  violent  undercurrent.  He  fears 
that  Gage,  knowing  the  activity  of  the  committee 
of  safety,  will  make  an  armed  raid  into  the  coun 
try,  and  he  dreads  the  result.  It  would  mean 
open  war." 

"  Let  it  so  be !  "  I  cried,  in  my  enthusiasm. 
"  Two  enemies  will  never  be  friends  until  they 
come  to  blows !  " 

"  War  is  the  last  desperate  act  of  the  unthink 
ing,"  returned  my  father.  "  Only  rarely  is  it 
fought  for  a  principle  or  by  those  who  know  what 
they  are  fighting  for.  My  son,  patriotism  is  an 
abused  word;  to  most  it  means  only  a  rifle  and  the 
excitement  of  the  man-hunt;  but  this  war,  if  it 
comes,  is  surely  justified  as  self-defense  and  free 
dom  are  justified  even  though  obtained  by  violence. 


THE  OPENING  17 

However,  this  brings  me  to  another  matter  and  in 
line  with  your  trip  to  Boston." 

My  father  picked  up  the  two  letters  from  the 
table  and  balanced  them  in  his  hand  as  if  weighing 
their  contents.  "  These  are  for  Mr.  Samuel 
Adams,"  he  said.  "  They  were  left  by  a  courier 
this  day,  being  sent  to  me  under  cover  as  one  of 
the  committee  of  correspondence.  They  are 
from  Doctor  Benjamin  Franklin  and  are  very  im 
portant.  I  have  been  made  responsible  for  their 
rapid  delivery,  and  so,  Allen,  my  son,  you  are  to 
be  their  bearer.  I  wish  to  admonish  you  to  let 
no  soul  know  you  have  these  letters  in  your  pos 
session,  and  they  are  to  be  desperately  defended 
in  case  of  discovery.  Such  are  my  instructions. 
You  must  start  by  to-morrow  noon,  deliver  the 
letters  as  soon  as  may  be,  see  Doctor  Warren, 
make  such  arrangements  as  you  can,  then  do  what 
you  list  and  the  times  allow.  In  my  opinion  Bos 
ton  is  a  slumbering  volcano  and  liable  to  sudden 
eruption.  Beware  of  broils,  boy;  I  know  your 
temper.  Before  attempting  to  see  Doctor  War 
ren  you  must  find  Mr.  Adams ;  and  it  is  likely  you 
will  have  trouble  since  he  has  been  proscribed 
along  with  John  Hancock.  Were  I  you  I  would 
go  straight  to  Lawyer  Dench.  You  know 
Dench?" 

"  Thaddeus  Dench?  That  old  skinflint? 
Ay,  I  used  to  know  him.  But  why  go  to  him?  " 
I  asked. 


1 8 

"  Because,  though  I  have  no  personal  liking  for 
the  man,  he  is,  or  was,  chairman  of  the  commit 
tee  of  correspondence  for  his  district,  and  better 
than  any  one  I  know  can  direct  you  to  Mr.  Adams. 
Moreover,  he  is  a  sharp  lawyer  and  a  good  one  to 
consult  in  time  of  trouble.  I  believe  some  of  his 
relatives  are  royalists,  but  he  is  stanch." 

"  To  me  he  has  the  foxy  look  of  Voltaire,"  I 
said. 

"  Voltaire's  value  lays  not  in  his  looks,"  re 
turned  my  father.  "  You  may  trust  Dench;  and 
he  can  advance  you  money,  if  necessary.  And 
you  had  better  take  the  roan  as  it  were  a  pity  to 
put  your  weight  on  the  bay  for  the  length  of 
Massachusetts.  You  may  sell  her  in  Boston,  if 
you  stay;  it  will  eke  out  your  funds.  Do  not  be 
disappointed  if  Doctor  Warren  postpones  matters 
until  midsummer  or  autumn.  Your  journey  is 
warranted  by  the  letters.  And  now,  good-night." 

The  old  gentleman  always  dismissed  me  very 
abruptly,  as  if  he  had  much  to  think  of,  and  he 
usually  had,  while  I  being  an  obedient  son  and 
my  father's  will  in  any  matter  unquestioned  law, 
at  once  retired  to  my  room,  slightly  dazed  by  the 
thought  of  Boston  and  the  future  expanded  before 
me.  I  was  but  twenty-six,  healthy,  big  in  body 
and  with  a  strength  fitting  its  bigness.  I  had 
lived  a  life  of  bodily  activity,  without  sorrow,  or 
great  joy  either,  for  that  matter.  As  for  the 
rest,  you  who  have  started  on  this  history  may 


THE  OPENING  19 

already  have  discovered  that  I  possessed  a  love 
of  adventure  and  excitement,  and  I  add  that  in 
college  and  out  this  love  had  gotten  me  into  many 
a  scrape,  as  it  was  destined  to  get  me  into  many 
another  —  and,  perhaps,  out  of  them,  as  well. 

And  so,  behold  me  on  the  afternoon  of  the  fol 
lowing  day  on  my  way  over  the  wall  of  hills  lying 
east  of  Harrington,  with  saddle-bag  well  stuffed 
with  necessities,  and  twenty  pounds  of  gold  in  a 
money-belt  around  my  waist.  The  letters  to  Mr. 
Adams  I  carried  in  my  coat  pocket  and  I  could  con 
ceive  of  no  man  getting  them  from  me;  neither 
could  I  conceive  of  any  man  wishing  to  do  me 
harm,  save,  perhaps,  Judge  Evers;  but  my  memory 
went  a  trifle  short  in  this  last. 

However,  it  did  seem  strange  that  my  father's 
final  words  to  me  were  about  the  judge.  "  While 
you  are  safe  enough  in  your  own  bailiwick,  Allen," 
he  said,  standing  by  me  when  I  was  already  in  the 
saddle,  "  while  I  was  beyond  it  I  would  say 
nothing  of  being  from  Harrington  or  having  had 
a  hand  in  the  Evers  matter.  Things  are  too  un 
settled  to  admit  of  brag,  and,  my  boy,  you  are 
prone  to  run  wild  when  your  blood  is  up.  Un 
doubtedly  news  of  the  assault  has  reached  head 
quarters;  so,  were  I  you,  I  would  sing  small  about 
Judge  Evers." 

I  remember  to  have  laughed  at  the  warning, 
which  really  I  did  not  need,  not  being  quite  a  fool, 
and  with  another  shake  of  the  old  gentleman's 


20  THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

hand,  a  wave  to  black  Rod  sowing  early  peas  in 
the  garden  and  another  to  his  wife  in  the  kitchen 
door,  I  galloped  away.  At  the  top  of  the  hill  that 
would  soon  hide  the  town  I  stopped  and  looked 
back.  The  Housatonic  lay  like  a  silver  ribbon 
athwart  the  softening  land;  Mount  Washington, 
with  Everett  beyond,  looked  solemn  in  its  loneli 
ness,  and  far  away  to  the  west  lay  Sleeping  Indian, 
the  colossal  outline  of  the  distant  Catskills.  Over 
all  the  sun  shone  sparkling  on  that  clear  April  day. 
I  turned  my  back  on  the  old  familiar  scene,  which 
never  again  looked  as  it  did,  and  it  is  only  lately 
that  I  have  come  to  know  that  it  was  I  and  not  the 
land  that  had  changed.  It  has  a  different  beauty 
now,  yet  in  itself  it  is  the  same.  So  does  indi 
vidual  experience  and  development  alter  individual 
conception.  At  that  time  I  had  yet  to  learn  the 
alchemy  of  the  two  most  powerful  passions  known 
to  man  —  Love  and  Hate. 

In  round  numbers  it  is  one  hundred  and  ten 
miles  from  Harrington  to  Boston,  and,  not  being 
anxious  to  kill  my  horse,  I  calculated  on  making 
the  journey  in  four  days.  And  nothing  of  the 
slightest  moment  happened  until  the  fourth  day 
though  as  I  drew  nearer  to  Boston  the  more  I 
heard  of  what  was  toward  in  that  forlorn  city 
stricken  down,  as  she  was,  by  the  hellish  embargo 
act  of  the  English  parliament.  Every  one  was 
looking  for  Gage  to  strike,  but  none  knew  in  what 
direction  his  blow  would  be  sent. 


THE  OPENING  21 

I  met  many  people  at  the  different  taverns  at 
which  I  stopped,  but  I  kept  my  own  counsel  and 
let  others  do  most  of  the  talking,  bearing  in  mind 
that  I  was  to  trust  no  man  with  the  fact  that  I  was 
the  bearer  of  correspondence  betwixt  such  political 
giants  as  Doctor  Franklin  and  Mr.  Samuel  Adams. 
The  letters  were  well  wrapped  in  oilskin  and  ap 
peared  harmless  enough  to  look  at,  but  I  did  not 
dream  that  I  was  carrying  matter  that  would  go 
far  toward  ruining  me.  And  yet,  perhaps,  it  had 
the  opposite  effect,  for  God  knows  the  letters  were 
cause  of  trouble  enough,  especially  when  it  is 
known,  as  it  will  be,  that  Mr.  Adams  never  saw 
either  of  them. 


CHAPTER  III 

AT   THE   WHITE    HORSE 

I  MIND  me  that  it  was  the  evening  of  Tues 
day,  the  eighteenth  day  of  April,  1775,  when 
I  drew  near  to  Boston,  being  then  at  Meno- 
tomy  l  and  about  five  good  miles  from  the  city. 
It  was  fine  weather,  very  warm  for  the  season,  and 
I  was  astonished  at  the  advance  of  all  growing 
things  which  were  so  much  more  forward  than 
among  the  hills  of  Berkshire.     Here  the  woods 
were  misty  with  young  leaves,  grain  was  well  up 
and  grass  rich  in  its  color  and  length. 

I  was  now  on  familiar  ground  again,  being  close 
to  my  Alma  Mater  at  Cambridge,  from  which  I 
had  graduated  but  two  years  before.  I  figured  on 
stopping  at  the  White  Horse  for  the  night,  seeing 
my  old  friend,  Simon  Able,  host  of  the  same,  and 
jogging  into  town  early  the  following  morning, 
steering  straight  for  Lawyer  Bench's  that  I  might 
find  Mr.  Adams  and  get  the  letters  off  my  hands. 
I  might  easily  have  gone  on  and  perhaps  have  seen 
Dench  that  night,  but  I  wished  for  daylight  and  a 
look  at  the  works  I  had  heard  Gage  had  stretched 
across  Boston  Neck  and  which  had  done  more  to 

aNow  West  Cambridge. 

22 


AT  THE  WHITE  HORSE  23 

arouse  the  people  than  any  other  one  of  his  pieces 
of  fine  impudence. 

There  was  no  hint  of  coming  trouble  around 
Menotomy.  The  road  was  quiet  and  there  were 
but  few  abroad  at  that  hour,  for  it  was  just  past 
sunset.  As  I  rode  along  I  met  an  English  officer 
on  horseback,  he  going  west,  but  as  his  majesty's 
uniform  was  no  novelty  to  me,  I  having  been 
familiar  with  it  in  my  college  days,  I  paid  him  no 
attention.  The  man  went  on,  hardly  glancing  at 
me,  and  presently,  on  looking  back,  I  saw  him 
standing  on  a  hill-top,  his  horse  finely  silhouetted 
against  the  glow  from  the  western  sky.  It  was 
as  though  he  had  stopped  and  was  waiting  for 
some  one,  as,  indeed,  he  was,  as  I  afterward  knew. 

So  now,  being  within  less  than  a  mile  of  the 
White  Horse,  and  thinking  of  Able  and  supper,  I 
was  mightily  surprised  to  mark  a  young  lad  awk 
wardly  climbing  the  fence  by  the  roadside  and 
making  as  if  to  speak  to  me.  Where  he  had  come 
from  I  had  no  idea  for  there  had  been  no  sign  of 
any  one  on  the  broad  field,  and  the  moon,  almost 
at  its  full,  had  just  wheeled  above  the  woods  and 
gave  plenty  of  light. 

"  What  is  it,  younker?  "  I  asked,  bringing  my 
horse  to  a  halt. 

'  Will  you  please  tell  me,  sir,  how  far  it  is  to 
Boston?"  His  voice  was  like  one  fairly  fright 
ened  or  exhausted,  and  he  looked  to  be  no  more 
than  seventeen.  Despite  the  cloak  he  wore,  and 


24  THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

which  was  shabby,  he  showed  the  slightness  of 
his  figure. 

"  It  is  better  than  five  miles,  lad,"  I  returned, 
looking  down  at  him.  "  An  you  are  tired  I  think 
your  weight  will  not  kill  my  horse  if  you  care  to 
throw  a  leg  up  behind  me." 

"Are  you  going  to  Boston,  sir?"  he  asked,  I 
thought  a  bit  eagerly. 

"  Nay  —  not  so  far.  Give  me  your  hand,  son, 
and  I'll  lift  you." 

But  he  shook  his  head,  backing  beyond  my 
reach,  then  thanked  me  and  said  he  was  not  very 
tired.  And  so  I  left  him  trudging  along  without 
even  a  stick  to  help  him,  and  I  figured  that  he  was 
a  runaway  'prentice  bound  for  his  home,  and  was 
a  peg  above  the  average  of  his  kind  in  that  he  was 
well  mannered  and  failed  to  murder  the  king's 
English. 

In  the  course  of  fifteen  minutes  I  came  abreast 
of  the  White  Horse  and  there  I  saw  a  British 
soldier  lolling  on  a  bench  in  the  moonlight,  his 
musket  against  the  weather-boards  of  the  house. 
As  I  halted  he  got  up  and  took  a  good  look  at  me, 
a  stare  I  returned,  and  without  saying  a  word 
reseated  himself  on  the  bench  though  it  was  grow 
ing  over-chilly  for  a  perch  outside. 

I  considered  his  being  there  at  such  an  hour, 
armed  as  he  was,  a  little  unusual,  and  unusual  it 
was,  too,  that  no  hostler  ran  out  to  take  my  horse, 
nor  did  Able  appear  at  the  door  though  the  light 


AT  THE  WHITE  HORSE  25 

showing  through  the  bar  window,  and  a  dancing 
glow,  told  of  a  fire  being  on  the  hearth  within. 
After  a  moment  of  waiting  I  took  my  horse  to  the 
stable  with  my  own  hands,  being  familiar  with  the 
outbuildings,  and  there,  more  to  my  surprise,  was 
another  soldier,  with  his  coat  off,  grooming  a 
horse  that  looked  to  have  recently  been  driven 
hard.  I  then  saw  how  evil  had  progressed,  since 
the  land  hereabout  seemed  to  be  sprouting  red 
coats,  while  in  my  day  one  was  rarely  seen  so  far 
afield. 

I  said  nothing  to  the  man,  but  carefully  attended 
to  my  own  tired  animal,  blanketing  him  and  feed 
ing  him  well,  then  made  tracks  for  the  tavern  and 
entered  the  bar,  hoping  to  be  met  by  the  jolly  Able. 

But  there  was  no  Able  there  and  at  first  sight  I 
thought  the  room  was  empty,  but  a  second  or  two 
later  discovered  a  man  on  the  settle.  He  was 
stretched  out  at  full  length  and  fast  asleep.  I 
could  not  see  his  face,  his  back  being  toward  me, 
but  I  took  him  to  be  a  tipsy  farmer  whose  house 
might  be  uncomfortable  until  he  had  slept  off  the 
fumes  of  his  liquor,  and  that  he  was  past  middle 
life  was  plain  in  the  mass  of  unqueued  white  hair 
that  was  tumbled  around  his  hatless  head. 

Believing  it  best  to  let  sleeping  dogs  lie,  I  did 
not  disturb  him  to  inquire  after  Able,  nor  did  I 
put  my  head  from  the  window  and  ask  of  the 
soldier  seated  under  it,  because,  as  I  have  said,  I 
hated  the  breed  of  red-coats,  one  and  all.  So  I 


26  THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

dropped  into  a  chair  and  waited  for  Simon,  be 
guiling  the  time  with  a  pipe  of  tobacco  and  count 
ing  the  pewters  over  the  bar,  my  mind  being  well- 
nigh  vacuous  at  the  moment.  God  knows  it  was 
the  last  of  vacuity  my  brain  indulged  in  for  many 
moons.  In  the  meantime  my  companion  on  the 
settle  made  no  move  nor  sound  to  show  he  was 
alive. 

But  presently  I  heard  the  soldier  under  the  win 
dow  get  quickly  to  his  feet;  then  there  was  a  call, 
and  in  a  few  moments  I  caught  the  bleat  of  a 
boyish  voice,  the  rattle  of  shoes  in  the  entry,  and 
there  entered  the  soldier,  who  I  now  saw  was  a 
sergeant,  and  the  lad  I  had  left  behind  on  the 
road.  He  was  pale  enough  in  the  light  of  the 
candles,  and  his  big,  dark  eyes  held  a  frightened 
look.  The  soldier  had  gripped  him  by  one  arm. 

'  To  Boston,  is  it!  "  he  was  saying,  in  a  rough 
voice.  "Ay,  I  think  it  is;  but  here  you'll  stay 
until  I  turn  you  over  to  one  that's  coming." 

I  became  interested. 

'  You  have  no  right  to  stop  me,"  said  the  boy, 
feebly  attempting  to  free  his  arm  from  the  ser 
geant's  hold. 

"  Have  I  not?  Little  ye  know  the  rules,  son! 
Ye'll  not  escape  me  this  time !  Your  coming  is  a 
flight  o' luck!" 

"  I  know  not  what  you  mean,"  said  the  youth, 
and  I  thought  he  was  about  to  cry  instead  of  blast 
ing  the  sergeant  between  the  eyes,  as  he  should 


AT  THE  WHITE  HORSE  27 

have  done;  but  he  was  a  milksop  —  more  a  girl 
than  a  boy,  as  I  now  saw  by  his  face,  and  I  knew 
he  had  not  the  spirit. 

'  'Tis  a  thing  you'll  soon  find  out,"  said  the 
man.  "  Ye  thought  to  trick  us,  did  ye  ?  Sit  ye 
down  at  the  table,  sir."  This  with  an  exaggerated 
bow  to  his  captive.  "  No  harm  will  come  to  you 
if  ye  behave  yerself,  my  fine  young  man !  "  With 
that  the  soldier  placed  his  musket  against  the  wall 
and  seated  himself  in  a  chair  placed  opposite  to 
that  into  which  he  had  thrust  the  lad. 

Now,  I  could  have  sworn  the  boy  was  no 
criminal,  civil  or  military,  and  so  could  not  under 
stand  what  right,  save  that  of  might,  the  ser 
geant  had  to  arrest  him  on  the  open  road;  and 
feeling  as  I  did  toward  any  one  wearing  the  uni 
form  of  the  king  all  my  sympathies  went  out  to 
the  young  fellow,  as  much  for  his  very  helpless 
ness  as  for  aught  else.  The  sergeant  may  have 
subdued  him,  but  the  sight  of  the  scarlet  of  his 
coat  had  the  contrary  effect  on  me. 

"What  is  the  matter  between  you  two?"  I 
asked,  rising  and  standing  with  my  back  to  the 
small  fire. 

"  I  know  not,"  said  the  youth,  with  an  appeal 
in  his  voice  as  he  threw  back  his  camlet  cloak  and 
half  held  out  his  arms  as  if  he  looked  for  me  to 
rescue  him,  much  as  a  girl  might  have  done. 
'  This  man  stopped  me  on  the  road  as  I  was  pass 
ing,  and  said  I  was  bound  to  the  king's  forces." 


28  THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

"  And  are  you  not?  "  I  asked,  flashing  a  glance 
at  the  now  grinning  soldier  who  was  taking  a 
leather-bound  book  from  his  pocket. 

"  Nay,  I  am  not." 

"Ay,"  put  in  the  sergeant,  "  but  he  is.  I've 
been  lookin'  for  him  an'  have  my  orders  about 
him.  He  thought  to  sneak  by  in  the  dark,  an' — " 

"  'Tis  a  lie!"  interrupted  the  other.  "I  am 
no  sneak!  I  never  saw  this  man  before  in  my 
life!" 

"  What  in  the  devil's  name  is  the  meaning  of 
this?"  I  put  in,  perplexed,  but  scenting  a  great 
wrong  somewhere.  And,  being  young  and  it  my 
nature,  I  determined  to  right  the  wrong,  if  possible. 

"  See  here,  my  young  buck,"  said  the  sergeant, 
suddenly  sobering,  as  he  slammed  his  book  to  the 
table  and  turned  on  me,  "  ye'd  best  not  interfere 
in  matters  that  concern  only  yer  betters.  If  ye 
know  what's  good  for  ye  ye'll  breathe  slow  an' 
talk  low."  This  last  with  a  scowl  at  me. 

Now,  had  it  not  been  for  the  sergeant's  covert 
threat  I  probably  would  not  have  acted  as  I  did; 
but  not  being  of  a  breed  that  tamely  bears  dicta 
tion,  I  resented  both  the  man's  half-insulting  man 
ner  and  his  tone,  and  took  the  step  that  makes  my 
story  worth  the  telling;  ay,  the  step  that  led  me 
at  once  into  a  life  different  from  that  planned ;  one 
of  which  I  had  so  far  only  dreamed,  as  young  men 
dream,  of  great  adventure,  and  glory,  and  of  love, 
perchance. 


AT  THE  WHITE  HORSE  29 

Therefore,  instead  of  being  abashed  by  the  man 
my  ire  was  aroused,  and  advancing  to  the  table,  I 
struck  it  sharply  with  my  knuckles.  "  I'll  hear 
the  truth  of  this  before  I  decide,"  I  returned 
firmly.  u  Think  not  to  frighten  me  because  you 
wear  the  king's  livery !  " 

"  A  fine,  clodhoppin'  interloper  ye  be !  "  ex 
claimed  the  sergeant,  flushing  with  anger,  yet 
plainly  uncomfortable.  "  An'  were  it  not  for  yer 
bigness  I'd  manhandle  ye,  as  I  may  yet  do.  Did 
ye  not  hear  me  say  that  this  party  belonged  to  the 
king?" 

"  Did  you  sign  your  name?  "  I  asked  quietly, 
turning  to  the  youth. 

"  No,  sir.  He  asked  my  name  and  I  told  him 
one  —  but  —  but  it  was  not  my  real  name." 

"  Not  your  own?  " 

"No,  sir,  not  really  my  own;  but  he  said  he 
would  hold  me  until  a  certain  person,  I  know  not 
who,  had  seen  me." 

"  That  will  do,"  I  returned,  disgusted  at  the 
youth's  callowness  and  ignorance.  "  By  your  own 
showing,  you  have  not  been  many  days  born  — 
or  have  been  living  in  the  woods,  which  last  does 
not  fit  your  appearance.  Did  this  man  tell  you 
aught  of  the  army  you  were  to  join?  " 

"  Not  a  word,  sir.     He  — " 

"  He  lies,"  interrupted  the  sergeant. 

"  Does  he  so?  "  said  I.  "  I  might  think  it,  did 
I  not  know  the  ways  of  your  ilk  and  the  necessities 


30  THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

of  Gage.  Your  method  savors  of  the  press-gang. 
The  boy  did  not  sign  his  name.  Dost  think  to 
make  him  fight  against  his  own  countrymen? 
That  is  what  you  want  him  for." 

"  What  is  it  to  ye  what  I  want  him  for?  I  am 
obeying  orders.  'Twill  be  but  a  little  an'  I'll 
have  ye,  too,  ye  — " 

"  Peace,  friend,"  I  interrupted.  "  Your  words 
are  big.  An'  that  you  are  so  anxious  to  have  me 
in  your  clutches  pencil  another  name  in  your  book. 
I  will  show  you  an  argument.  Put  down  John 
Smith." 

Now,  whether  the  man,  being  blinded  by  anger 
and  so  a  fool  for  the  time,  really  thought  to  have 
a  better  hold  on  me  by  getting  me  committed  even 
to  a  slight  extent,  I  know  not;  but  instead  of  leap 
ing  on  me,  as  I  at  first  thought  he  would,  he  only 
pulled  out  his  book  and  wrote  rapidly. 

"  Now  make  yer  mark  here,"  he  said,  pointing 
at  the  name. 

And  myself  being  blinded  by  my  suddenly  con 
ceived  plan  of  helping  the  youth,  besides  being 
reckless  to  a  degree,  bent  over  and  put  a  cross  to 
the  name,  though  I  had  sense  enough  to  realize  I 
was  treading  on  ticklish  ground,  though  God 
knows  that  such  knowledge  has  never  stood  in  my 
way  nor  made  me  abate  a  determination. 

At  the  completion  of  my  mark,  the  sergeant 
pulled  out  a  silver  shilling  and  tossed  it  to  me. 
'There,  my  buck,  I  have  ye!  "  he  exclaimed, 


AT  THE  WHITE  HORSE  31 

as  I  picked  up  the  silver.  "  I  have  yer  name,  an' 
ye  handled  the  king's  shilling.  It  runs  with  my 
commission  that  — " 

"  Damn  the  king's  shilling  and  your  commission 
-and  you,  too,  for  the  matter  of  that!  "  I  ex 
claimed,  hurling  the  coin  across  the  room.  "  Get 
John  Smith  if  you  want  him.  I  am  not  he.  Nor 
have  you  asked  me  to  join  the  army.  May  not  a 
man  make  a  cross-mark  without  finding  himself  a 
prisoner? 

"  Now  then,  my  lad,"  I  said,  turning  to  the 
trembling  boy,  "  we  have  reason  on  our  side,  if  we 
have  nothing  else.  As  for  force  —  he  beats  you, 
if  not  myself,  and  therefore  I  advise  you  to  cut  and 
run  for  it,  and  I'll  see  that  this  lobster-back  does 
not  follow  far." 

At  that  I  pointed  to  the  door.  The  soldier 
made  as  if  to  jump  to  his  feet;  but  I  reached  for 
him  and,  grasping  him  by  the  collar,  forced  him 
back  into  his  chair  and  there  held  him  with  one 
hand,  while  with  the  other  I  snatched  up  the 
leather-covered  book  and  flung  it  into  the  fire. 
But  for  a  moment  the  youth  was  too  frightened  to 
obey,  and  hung  in  the  wind  with  his  great  eyes 
staring  into  mine. 

"  Go !  "  I  shouted,  and  as  if  my  voice  lifted  him, 
he  jumped  to  his  feet  and  ran  from  the  room  with 
the  lightness  of  a  deer,  banging  the  door  behind 
him. 

And  then  I  knew  I  had  my  hands  full;  for, 


32  THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

though  I  might  make  a  shift  to  defend  myself 
against  any  unarmed  man,  I  could  not  hold  the 
Stocky  sergeant  into  his  chair  for  an  indefinite 
time,  and  his  musket  stood  handy  to  his  grasp,  and 
l  had  small  doubt  it  was  loaded. 


CHAPTER  IV 

JACOB    MOON 

EVEN  now  I  have  the  memory  of  the  red 
blood  as  it  leaped  to  the  soldier's  thick 
neck  and  his  face  on  the  realization  that 
he  had  been  outdone.     With  a  round  oath  he 
whirled  out  of  my  grasp,  while  I  sprang  away, 
placing  myself  betwixt  him  and  his  weapon,  and 
being  intrenched  by  the  table. 

There  I  braced  myself  for  assault,  well  assured 
that  when  he  grappled  with  me  I  would  have  him 
at  a  disadvantage,  for  few  men  between  Essex  and 
Berkshire  might  best  me  in  boxing  or  the  wrestle. 
I  never  saw  rage  so  akin  to  insanity  as  in  the 
sergeant  as  he  caught  sight  of  his  book  already 
curling  in  the  heat  of  the  bed  of  coals  into  which 
it  had  fallen.  With  something  like  a  scream  he 
leaped  for  it  and  dragged  it  forth,  stamping  out 
the  fire  that  crimped  the  edges  of  the  paper. 
Then  he  gave  me  his  attention,  though  instead  of 
at  once  assaulting  me,  he  seized  the  chair  in  which 
he  had  been  sitting  and  hurled  it  at  my  head,  the 
piece  of  furniture  passing  over  me  and  out  through 
the  open  window  at  my  back.  This  he  was  about 
to  follow  up  in  person,  and  there  was  plain  murder 
in  his  eye  as  he  crouched  by  the  end  of  the  fireplace. 

33 


34  THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

Now  I  had  given  no  more  attention  to  the 
farmer  on  the  settle  than  I  had  to  the  smoldering 
back-log;  indeed,  I  had  not  considered  his  pres 
ence,  one  way  or  another;  but  as  the  soldier  sprang 
to  pass  him  in  his  dash  for  me,  with  the  quickness 
of  a  cat  the  recumbent  man  interposed  himself, 
between  us. 

I  could  only  see  his  broad  back  as  he  faced  the 
infuriated  soldier;  but  I  marked  the  squareness  of 
his  almost  squat  body  and  the  weight  of  his  un- 
queued  hair  as  it  streamed  in  disorder  over  his 
shoulders.  He  wasted  no  time  in  parley,  but 
drawing  back  his  right  arm,  shot  out  his  fist. 

The  blow  took  the  redcoat  on  the  point  of  his 
chin,  and  if  it  did  not  at  once  stun,  it  completely 
demoralized  him,  for  he  whirled  around  on  his 
heel,  and  clutching  at  the  table,  fell,  carrying  it 
over  with  him,  and  with  a  crash  both  went  to  the 
floor,  the  man  lying  still. 

As  a  sequel  to  this  rumpus  I  looked  to  see  the 
door  burst  open  and  the  landlord,  or  some  one  else, 
rush  in;  but  nothing  of  the  kind  happened.  In 
stead,  the  farmer  turned  to  me  and  held  out  his 
hand. 

And  then  I  wondered  that  I  had  taken  him  for 
a  farmer,  since  if  he  were  not  a  sailor  I  had  no 
right  attempting  to  fix  a  calling  for  him.  His 
broad,  clean-shaven  face  was  benign,  his  gray  eye 
clear,  his  set  jaw  strong,  and  though  he  must  have 
been  well  past  fifty  years,  his  teeth  were  even  and 


JACOB  MOON  35 

sound.  It  was  the  deep  tan  on  his  face  and  his 
hooked  fingers,  together  with  his  dress,  that  gave 
him  the  sea  flavor. 

"  And  now,  lad,"  he  said  easily,  and  with  a  slow 
smile  that  bespoke  a  sense  of  self-reliance,  "  it  is 
full  time  for  ye  to  get  into  a  safe  harbor,  seein' 
that  henceforth  ye  will  be  a  marked  man.  What 
might  be  your  name?  " 

"  Allen  Darcy,  of  Harrington,"  I  replied,  at 
once  attracted  to  him  and  forgetting  the  policy  of 
not  mentioning  my  home  town,  even  then  feeling 
that  I  could  trust  him  with  anything,  so  completely 
and  so  instantly  had  he  subjugated  me. 

"  Oh-ho!  "  he  exclaimed,  throwing  up  both  his 
great  hands.  "  Of  Harrington,  ha !  An'  by  all 
that's  dead  I'll  lay  a  wager  that  a  lad  o'  your  size 
an'  grit  is  akin  to  Judge  Darcy,  o'  Berkshire." 

"  He  is  my  father,"  said  I. 

"  Ah-ha !  Then  I  know  ye.  Ye  were  of  those 
who  pulled  his  honor  from  the  bench,  scarce  a 
month  agone!  " 

"  Ay,"  I  returned,  astonished  that  the  news 
had  gone  so  far  abroad  and  so  soon. 

"  An'  so  I  struck  better  than  I  knew !  I  was  in 
your  father's  house  scarce  a  week  since,  being  a 
messenger  bearing  letters." 

"  For  Samuel  Adams?  "  I  asked. 

'  That  same,"  he  returned,  lowering  his  voice. 
"  An'  had  I  known  what  was  toward  I  might  have 
carried  the  matter  myself  without  troubling  Judge 


36  THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

Darcy.  But  I  did  not  then  think  to  come  this 
way." 

"  Which  is  no  matter,  I  being  the  bearer  of 
them,"  I  replied,  foolishly  confiding  the  fact, 
though  this  foolishness  bore  no  evil  consequences. 

"  I  think  likely,"  he  returned.  "  An'  so,  all 
the  more  ye  should  not  be  caught !  Those  letters 
would  be  found  on  ye,  an'  the  British  authorities 
would  doubtless  give  much  to  come  by  their  con 
tents,  I  take  it,  though  I  know  nothing  of  their 
wording.  I  love  the  spirit  ye  show,  lad,  but  this 
is  no  place  for  ye.  Get  hence  an'  after  the 
youngster  ye  saved." 

"  I'm  obliged  to  you,"  I  returned;  "  but  it  seems 
that  your  own  case  is  more  desperate  than  mine, 
since  it  was  you  who  struck  the  soldier.  Do  not 
think  I  fear  him.  What  shall  I  call  you,  friend?  " 

"  Moon,  Jacob  Moon.  An'  my  offense  is  not 
as  rank  as  yours,  for  all  the  seeming,  since  you 
have  defied  the  British  authorities,  while  I  have 
but  struck  down  an  individual  who  would  break 
the  peace. 

"  Look  you,  son;  I  am  not  altogether  what  I 
seem,  an'  I  know  this  fellow  was  expecting  the 
arrival  of  others  of  his  ilk.  That  is  why  I  warn 
ye.  And  surely  you  know  the  flavor  of  the  times 
an*  what  is  toward  this  night." 

"  I  know  that  there  has  been  trouble,  and  that 
more  is  at  hand." 

"  And  close  at  hand,"  returned  the  old  man. 


37 

"  Scarce  an  hour  agone  a  rider  went  in  haste  to 
Lexington,  taking  with  him  a  word  o'  warning; 
an'  I  am  on  the  watch  for  his  return.  I  tell  ye, 
son,  that  this  place  will  be  full  o'  red-coats  ere 
morning,  an'  I  would  not  have  ye  caught  here." 

"  You  are  very  kind,"  I  said,  "  but  how  about 
yourself?  This  fellow  will  soon  recover  and  de 
nounce  you." 

"  Fret  not  for  me,  my  son,"  he  replied.  "  I 
struck  with  a  warrant  an'  an  eye  to  my  own  safety. 
But  mayhap  the  rascal  would  be  better  in  the  cellar 
than  a  witness  here." 

And  so  saying  Moon  bent  and  took  the  uncon 
scious  man  by  the  collar,  and  without  further 
words  dragged  him  from  the  room,  while  I 
straightened  the  overturned  furniture.  For  I  had 
no  mind  to  run,  both  because  I  had  no  fear  of  the 
sergeant  and  did  not  feel  like  leaving  the  old  man 
to  bear  the  brunt  of  coming  difficulty.  Nor  do  I 
happen  to  be  of  the  kidney  of  those  who  flee  from 
danger  while  duty  places  me  in  it.  I  had  the 
name  of  —  but  let  that  rest,  as  an  explanation 
might  sound  boastful;  only,  just  then  I  felt  that  my 
line  of  duty  lay  where  I  was.  Trouble?  Un 
fortunately  I  do  not  always  stop  to  weigh  it. 

So  I  stayed  where  I  was  instead  of  running  after 
an  inconsequential  boy,  and  had  barely  straight 
ened  the  table  and  chairs,  when  the  outer  door 
opened  and  admitted,  not  Able,  for  whom  I 
looked,  but  a  soldier  —  a  British  soldier,  but  it 


3  8  THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

was  not  the  sergeant,  being  only  the  man  I  had 
seen  in  the  stable.  With  an  air  of  surprise  he 
stood  a  moment  looking  about  the  room,  then  he 
addressed  me. 

"  How  long  have  ye  been  here,  fellow?  " 

"What's  that  to  you?"  I  returned,  nettled  at 
his  voice  and  manner,  as  well  as  at  the  color  of  his 
coat. 

"  It  matters  much,"  he  said,  drawing  in  his 
horns.  "  Has  there  been  a  sergeant  here?  Did 
you  see  him?  " 

"  Ay,  I  saw  him." 

"Where  is  he?"  The  man  advanced  a  step 
toward  me. 

"  Gone  out,"  I  answered,  enjoying  his  evident 
discomfort. 

"Where,  you  lout?"  he  demanded  with  a 
scowl,  as  he  recognized  my  attitude  toward  him  — 
or  perhaps  it  was  because  I,  a  civilian,  dared  cross 
words  with  one  of  the  military. 

"  As  to  that,  I  am  no  more  his  keeper  than  I 
am  a  servant  to  answer  the  questions  of  a  shrimp- 
backed  hireling,"  I  returned  warmly,  foolishly  giv 
ing  scope  to  my  spleen. 

I  know  not  how  this  petty  quarrel  might  have 
ended,  but  as  each  of  us  took  something  of  a 
belligerent  attitude  again  the  door  opened,  and 
again  there  entered  one  of  his  majesty's  soldiers. 
But  this  time  it  was  an  officer.  That  something 
was  in  the  wind  was  very  evident. 


JACOB  MOON  39 

"  What's  this?  What's  this?  "  demanded  the 
newcomer,  as  his  eye  caught  the  situation.  The 
soldier  drew  himself  to  "  attention  "  and  saluted. 

"  O'Hara  has  deserted  his  post,  sir,  and  yon 
yokel  insulted  me  when  I  inquired  about  him.  I 
was  about  to  chastise  him,  sir,  when  — " 

"  He  was  about  to  try,"  I  put  in,  "  and  I  would 
not  have  your  presence  interfere  if  he  is  still  of  the 
same  mind.  I  am  ready  to  give  him  a  lesson  in 
civility  to  citizens,  and  one  he  will  not  readily 
forget." 

I  was  working  myself  into  a  red  heat  as  I  spoke. 

The  officer's  face  grew  darkly  flushed  at  my 
words,  and  in  some  way  he  looked  familiar,  but  I 
could  not  place  him,  though  I  thought  I  might  have 
met  him  in  or  about  Boston  during  my  college 
days.  Instead  of  replying  to  me  he  turned  to  the 
soldier. 

"  You  may  stable  my  horse.  I  shall  remain 
here  until-  No  matter;  stable  the  animal  and 
remain  outside  until  I  call." 

Without  answering  the  soldier  again  saluted, 
and  with  a  malignant  look  at  me  left  the  room. 
The  officer,  with  an  indolent  ease,  plainly  affected, 
walked  to  the  settle  and  seated  himself  on  it. 

I  remained  standing  as  I  looked  at  him,  puzzled 
by  his  face  which  I  thought  I  had  seen  before. 
However,  I  could  not  place  him. 


CHAPTER  V 

DEVIL   DARCY 

FOR  a  few  moments  silence  reigned  between 
us,  not  a  sound  being  heard  save  the  loud 
tick  of  the  Dutch  clock  on  the  wall,  and  the 
occasional  snap  of  the  dying  fire. 

It  appeared  that  the  officer  was  for  ignoring 
my  presence,  for  he  abstractedly  tapped  his  booted 
leg  with  his  sword-scabbard  as  he  gazed  into  the 
failing  flame,  while  I  stood  looking  at  him  and 
wondered  what  had  become  of  old  Moon,  what 
disposition  he  had  made  of  the  unconscious  ser 
geant,  and  began  to  think  that  the  old  man  was 
wiser  than  I,  and  that  I  had  better  take  horse  and 
get  elsewhere.  It  would  have  altered  my  life  had 
I  acted  to  that  end,  but  I  did  not. 

Presently  the  officer's  eye  caught  sight  of  the 
sergeant's  book  where  it  lay  on  the  broad  hearth, 
its  edges  yet  smoking.  With  sudden  interest  the 
man  leaned  forward,  and  with  his  scabbard  pulled 
it  toward  him,  shook  out  the  few  remaining  sparks, 
and  opened  it. 

Then  he  started  and  looked  up  at  me. 

"How  came  this  book  here?"  he  demanded. 

I  made  no  answer.  Consulting  the  book  again, 
he  said: 

40 


DEVIL  DARCY  41 

"  Say,  fellow,  are  you  John  Smith?  " 

"  I  am  neither  a  fellow  nor  John  Smith,"  I  re 
turned,  seating  myself  on  the  end  of  the  table. 

"  Dost  know  how  the  book  came  to  the  fire?  " 

"  Ay,  I  do.  But  there  be  others  who  know  as 
much.  You  may  question  them." 

"  Now,  by  the  hot  foot  of  Lucifer,  I'll  see  you 
trimmed  into  respect  for  your  betters !  "  he  burst 
out,  rising,  and  whipping  out  his  sword  in  anger. 
I  slipped  from  the  table  and  placed  it  between  us, 
my  eyes  suddenly  opened  to  his  temper. 

"  Be  a  little  careful  with  the  knife,  sir,"  I  re 
turned.  "  I  would  not  have  you  do  your  trimming 
with  that." 

"  Who  are  you  ?  and  where  do  you  belong,  you 
insolent  rebel,  for  a  rebel  you  undoubtedly  are?  " 
he  asked,  sinking  back  on  the  settle  as  he  saw  I  was 
fairly  well  intrenched. 

"  I  am  from  Berkshire,"  I  answered,  not  caring 
to  be  more  explicit. 

u  A  nest  of  treason,  second  only  to  Boston  I  " 
he  exclaimed.  "  Answer  me  and  save  your  skin. 
Was  a  sergeant  in  here?  " 

"  Yes." 

"  Any  one  else?  " 

I  thought  of  Moon  and  of  the  young  fellow  who 
had  escaped,  but  I  am  no  informer. 

'  You  will  have  to  find  the  sergeant  and  ques 
tion  him,"  I  returned  carelessly. 

"  By  the  hot  foot  of  Lucifer  1  "  he  began  again, 


42  THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

but  checked  himself  as  he  turned  over  the  burnt 
leaves  of  the  book  still  in  his  hands. 

And  then  I  knew  the  man.  The  odd  and  half- 
familiar  expletive  had  stirred  me  when  I  first  heard 
it,  and  his  second  use  of  it  rolled  back  the  curtain 
that  clouded  my  memory.  Ay,  I  knew  him  then, 
and  I  wondered  that  I  had  not  known  him  before, 
despite  his  uniform,  for  his  face  was  unchanged. 

He  was  Lawrence  Brussel,  in  the  old  days  nick 
named  Hotfoot  Brussel.  He  had  been  a  college- 
mate,  and  my  ancient  dislike  for  him  leaped  to  the 
surface  as  I  became  sure  of  his  identity. 

He  had  called  himself  a  full-blooded  English 
man,  though  I  knew  him  to  be  colonial  born,  and 
as  a  youth  he  had  lived  with  an  uncle  in  Boston. 
We  had  entered  Harvard  in  the  same  year,  but 
Brussel  had  been  a  failure  from  the  first,  even  as  a 
freshman. 

He  had  been  arrogant,  and  unpopular  through 
his  excessive  stinginess,  while  he  held  himself  aloof 
from  his  classmates  and  openly  derided  us  of  the 
colonies  as  being  beneath  him.  As  for  his  rela 
tions  with  women  let  me  say  as  little  as  possible, 
only  he  was  a  conceited  ass  withal.  His  abilities 
as  a  student  had  been  well-nigh  nil,  he  having  been 
forever  behind  the  rest  of  us.  In  his  second  year 
he  had  thrown  up  his  college  rights  to  prevent  the 
disgrace  of  rustication,  and  I  had  heard  he  had 
gone  to  England,  where  he  had  purchased  a  com 
mission  in  the  army. 


DEVIL  DARCY  43 

Undoubtedly  he  had  come  back  by  way  of  Hali 
fax,  and  was  now  under  Gage,  and  again  treading 
the  land  of  his  birth,  but  as  an  enemy  to  his  coun 
trymen. 

Though  never  openly  at  war,  there  had  always 
been  bad  blood  between  us,  quite  as  much  because 
I  excelled  him  in  studies  as  that  I  always  resented 
his  patronizing  airs,  ridiculed  his  references  to  the 
aristocracy  from  which  he  claimed  descent,  and 
openly  cursed  him  for  his  lack  of  principle  and 
ambition. 

I  knew  the  man  for  a  consummate  liar  —  a  liar 
from  both  habit  and  cowardice  —  and,  save  physi 
cally,  had  not  the  least  respect  for  him.  As  for 
that,  he  was  about  my  height  and  build,  though 
somewhat  heavier,  bore  a  rather  handsome  face, 
and  was  my  senior  by  two  years. 

It  was  fate  that  brought  us  together  that  night, 
but  I  did  not  then  suspect  it.  All  I  knew  was  that 
here  was  Hotfoot,  otherwise  Larry  Brussel,  and 
he  had  not  recognized  me.  Nor  did  I  care  to 
have  him.  When  he  met  the  sergeant,  as  he  was 
bound  to  sooner  or  later  do,  there  would  be  a 
means  of  identification  which  might  become  more 
than  annoying  to  me  in  the  future. 

As  he  sat  there  looking  at  me,  his  eyes  narrow 
ing  as  if  he  were  puzzled,  my  old  dislike  for  him 
grew  apace.  Had  he  appeared  as  a  civilian,  it 
would  have  been  bad  enough;  but  to  see  this  mass 
of  ignorance,  prejudice,  and  pride,  tricked  out  in 


44  THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

his  majesty's  uniform,  and  hear  him  threaten  me, 
was  almost  more  than  I  could  bear. 

"  I  shall  not  chastise  you  as  you  deserve,"  he 
finally  said.  "  There  be  others  who  will  take  that 
from  my  hands." 

"  You  have  Falstaff's  wisdom  in  recognizing  dis 
cretion  as  the  better  part  of  valor,"  I  said  mock 
ingly,  coming  from  behind  the  table  and  reseating 
myself  on  it,  carelessly  swinging  one  leg.  He  did 
not  rise  to  the  taunt,  having  suddenly  fallen  into 
thought,  and  again  silence  settled  between  us. 
Presently  Brussel  looked  up  and  spoke,  and  now 
his  voice  had  the  wheedling  softness  I  well  re 
membered  he  used  in  the  days  when  he  tried  to 
borrow  money  or  curry  favor  with  his  fellows. 
'You  say  you  have  traveled  from  the  west?" 
he  asked,  as  if  there  had  been  nothing  but  smooth 
ness  betwixt  us. 

"  Ay,  and  but  just  off  the  road,"  I  returned, 
also  peaceably. 

"  Alone?  "     The  question  was  carelessly  put. 

"  Alone,"  I  answered. 

"  By  way  of  Concord  and  Lexington?  " 

"  Ay,"  I  replied,  thinking  he  was  mighty 
curious. 

"  And  did  you  see  aught  of  a  damsel  ?  " 

"  Ay,  many  a  damsel,"  I  said,  knowing  his 
weakness,  and  wondering  what  he  was  getting  at. 

"  I  mean  not  those  of  the  towns,  sir.  I  mean, 
didst  see  a  woman  traveling  —  riding  a  worn 


DEVIL  DARCY  45 

horse  —  a  bay  —  and  without  attendance  —  a  — 
a  damsel,  in  short?     Have  you  seen  such?  " 

Here  was  Hotfoot,  the  ladykiller,  all  over 
again.  I  thought  I  saw  his  drift  and  it  made 
me  mad. 

"  No,"  I  said  sharply.  "  Nor  would  I  look  to 
see  a  damsel  being  long  without  so-called  protec 
tion  while  Gage  has  his  spawn  scattered  over 
the  land." 

He  looked  hard  at  me  at  that.  "  An  you  had," 
he  said  warmly,  and  with  a  sneer,  "  you  would  un 
doubtedly  have  offered  yourself  that  no  harm  save 
that  of  your  own  making  might  come  to  her." 

The  insult  was  personal  and  gratuitous.  The 
blood  leaped  to  my  head,  and  ere  I  was  aware  I 
had  uncovered  that  which  I  had  meant  to  conceal. 

"  Still  at  your  old  ways !  Have  a  care  —  have 
a  care,  Hotfoot,"  I  said.  "  You  be  out  of  bounds, 
and  college  laws  will  not  save  you  as  they  have 
done  many  times  in  the  past." 

He  swung  round  as  if  I  had  struck  him,  and 
stared  at  me  in  open  wonder. 

"  What  the  deuce !  "  he  exclaimed. 
'  You  are  getting  warm  at  guessing,  Larry,"  I 
said.  "  If  your  wits  were  as  alert  as  your  tongue 
you  would  have  been  in  no  hurry  to  tell  of  ambush 
ing  a  damsel  without  protection,  an  affair  of  no 
honor,  if  you  are  concerned  in  it,  and  to  insult  an 
old  classmate,  who  happens  to  know  you  too  well." 

He  looked  at  me  stupidly  for  an  instant,  and 


46 

then  burst  out:  "By  the  hot  foot  of  Lucifer! 
You  are  Devil  Darcy!  " 

"  I  am  Allen  Darcy,"  I  said,  parrying  the  nick 
name  acquired  in  the  desperate  fool-hardiness  of 
youth.  "  But  you  will  please  not  to  '  Devil '  me, 
else  you  raise  the  devil  in  me.  And  how  dost 
enjoy  being  a  renegrade  in  these  times?  " 

"  By  Lucifer,  my  lad!  "  he  said,  rising  in  heat. 
"  I  might  have  known  you  by  your  gross  impu 
dence!  Look  to  yourself,  Allen  Darcy,  and  do 
not  think  I  will  allow  the  king's  uniform  to  be  in 
sulted  by  a  low-born  clodhopper." 

"  And  think  not  that  your  scarlet  coat  gives  you 
license.  Nay,  Hotfoot,  your  play  of  dignity  is 
lost  on  me;  I  know  you  inside  and  out." 

I  confess  that  I  enjoyed  baiting  him  as  he  stood 
there;  beside  him,  for  interest,  the  sergeant  fell 
into  insignificance.  For  a  moment  my  old  college- 
mate  stood  glowering  at  me,  seemingly  taking  my 
measure,  his  countenance  growing  black.  Finally 
he  appeared  to  come  to  some  decision,  and  draw 
ing  himself  up  with  an  air  of  superiority,  he  said, 
and  quickly,  too: 

"  Allen  Darcy,  I  no  longer  know  you  as  a  class 
mate.  You  wish  to  provoke  me  into  a  broil,  but 
as  a  British  officer  I  may  not  at  present  soil  my 
hand  or  sword  in  a  personal  quarrel  and  with  such 
as  you,  though  it  comes  to  me  as  a  duty  to  see  you 
arrested."  With  that  he  stepped  toward  the 
door. 


DEVIL  DARCY  47 

Now,  it  was  plain  to  rne  that  he  meant  to  sum 
mon  the  soldier  from  the  barn  and  have  me  put 
under  restraint;  and  whether  right  or  wrong  to 
me  it  was  hardly  a  problem  what  the  result  of  such 
an  attempt  would  be.  To  be  sure,  there  was  the 
sergeant's  musket  against  the  wall.  I  might  take 
it  and  defend  myself  thereby  perhaps  killing  one 
or  both  of  the  men.  The  idea  showed  its  im 
possibility  though  had  I  lifted  the  piece  and  shot 
Hotfoot  through  the  head  I  think  I  would  have 
suffered  less  than  I  did,  in  the  long  run. 

And  as  killing  was  out  of  the  question  then  so 
was  my  arrest,  and  Brussel  had  not  taken  two  steps 
toward  the  door  ere  I  made  up  my  mind  to  thwart 
him.  Before  he  had  gotten  more  than  half  way 
across  the  spacious  room  I  had  interposed  myself 
betwixt  him  and  the  entrance. 

"  What  do  you  mean  to  do,  Hotfoot?  "  I  asked, 
backing  against  the  panels,  and  smiling  at  him. 

"Do?"  he  suddenly  thundered,  stopping  and 
drawing  his  sword  again,  a  weapon  I  am  not  the 
least  afraid  of  when  on  guard.  "  Do?  I  am 
going  to  arrest  you  for  interfering  with  the  king's 
justice." 

So  it  was  as  I  had  feared,  though  just  what  he 
meant  by  "  the  king's  justice  "  I  did  not  know. 
Had  he,  too,  wind  of  my  exploit  in  Harrington? 
Or  did  he  consider  that  my  attitude  toward  him 
self  warranted  the  charge?  It  was  a  rather  tick 
lish  situation  for  me. 


48  THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

"  Hotfoot,"  said  I,  pointing  at  him,  "  have  you 
aught  but  mud  in  your  composition?  We  have 
never  been  friends,  nor  even  pretended  friendship, 
yet  have  crossed  nothing  worse  than  our  tongues. 
Now  has  come  the  time  that  between  us  it  must 
be  seen  which  is  the  better  man. 

"  I  know  not  the  woman  you  intended  to  insult; 
but  you  did  insult  me,  a  matter  I  resented.  Now 
you  would  sneak  out  and  get  help  to  punish  me ! 
Dost  think  I  am  blind,  Larry?  Nay,  man.  Put 
off  that  sword  and  meet  me  foot  to  foot,  and 
should  I  fail  to  throw  you  through  yonder  window 
in  the  space  of  three  minutes  I  will  yield  myself  to 
you.  Is  it  fair?  If  not,  set  your  terms,  for  from 
this  room  you  shall  not  go  until  I  am  ready  to 
let  you." 

Brussel  had  halted  and  now  looked  at  me,  his 
face  paling  and  reddening  alternately.  '  You  — 
you  will  attempt  to  prevent  my  leaving  this 
room?  "  he  gasped. 

"  No  less,"  I  returned,  stiffening  my  jaw. 

"  Now,  by  the  hot  foot  of  Lucifer !  "  And 
with  no  more  than  that  he  suddenly  whirled  his 
sword  from  its  scabbard  and  made  as  if  to  cut  me 
down.  But  little  does  one  need  care  for  sword  or 
bayonet  if  on  the  watch  and  alert,  for  they  are 
weapons  easily  made  harmless;  but  they  make  fine 
threats,  and  his  was  enough  for  me,  my  blood 
being  up,  and  in  truth  I  was  only  too  glad  to  close 
with  him.  Ere  his  steel  could  descend  I  had  my 


DEVIL  DARCY  49 

arms  around  him,  and,  the  sword  then  being  use 
less,  he  dropped  it  and  grappled  with  me,  probably 
hoping  that  with  his  greater  weight  he  could 
master  me. 

Now  there  are  two  things  I  could  do  well, 
though  I  say  it  in  all  modesty,  one  being  to  wrestle 
in  any  fashion,  the  other  to  use  my  fists  in  the  art 
they  call  "  boxing,"  and  of  the  two  I  was  the  more 
skilful  in  the  former. 

So  when  Brussel  cast  aside  his  steel  and  made 
to  throw  me  in  a  hand-to-hand  encounter,  the  devil, 
after  whom  I  had  been  nicknamed  for  my  short 
temper  and  a  spirit  of  daring,  rose  in  me  like  a 
wave,  and  I  felt  that  I  was  about  to  teach  my  old 
classmate  a  lesson  in  humility.  To  that  end  I 
made  shift  to  give  him  what  is  known  as  the  "  un- 
der-hold,"  or  advantage,  though  it  is  an  advantage 
only  to  those  who  know  how  to  use  it.  And  he 
did  not. 

I  felt  his  body  turn  rigid  as  he  strained  to  throw 
me,  he  catching  his  breath  in  short  gasps  as  to 
gether  we  staggered  over  the  floor,  upsetting  chairs 
and  tables,  while  I  bided  my  time  and  felt  slowly 
for  the  grip  I  aimed  at. 

Two  minutes  must  have  passed  in  this  voiceless 
struggle,  yet  not  a  soul  entered  to  interrupt  us,  nor 
did  Brussel  lift  his  voice  above  a  grunt  as  his  pent 
breath  left  his  body.  But  in  the  third  minute, 
when  I  finally  got  where  I  could  reach  over  his 
back  and  gathered  a  bunch  of  his  scarlet  coat  in 


50  THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

my  grasp,  he  evidently  knew  what  was  coming,  for 
the  coward  in  him  leaped  out  in  a  great  yell  for 
help. 

But  by  then  I  was  ready,  and,  suddenly  straight 
ening  myself,  in  one  supreme  effort  I  carried  him 
clean  from  the  floor,  flinging  him  over  my  shoulder 
in  a  swing  that  brought  his  boot-heels  against  the 
ceiling  with  a  bang;  then,  loosening  my  hold,  tore 
away  from  him. 

He  came  to  the  floor  with  a  crash,  and  before 
he  could  gather  his  scattered  wits  I  lifted  him  as 
one  might  lift  a  sack  of  grain,  and  was  about  to 
shoot  him  through  the  open  window  when  I  heard 
the  shout  of  some  one  in  the  passage  and  the  noise 
of  running  feet.  It  was  too  late  for  me  to  execute 
my  threat  in  full,  and,  conceiving  I  would  have 
scant  justice  from  any  redcoat  who  might  now  catch 
me,  I  dropped  the  officer  and  vaulted  through  the 
window.  This  latter  was  no  great  feat,  the  sill 
being  not  above  the  level  of  a  man's  head  from 
outside. 

And  I  was  but  just  in  time,  for  as  I  looked  back 
into  the  room  I  saw  the  soldier  who  had  come  in 
after  the  sergeant,  and  the  sergeant  himself,  dash 
through  the  door  and  into  the  disordered  apart 
ment. 

The  sergeant  was  in  a  towering  rage;  his  face 
was  aflame,  his  coat  torn  and  covered  with  cob 
webs,  and,  as  I  ducked  below  the  sill  that  I  might 
not  be  seen,  I  heard  him  say: 


DEVIL  DARCY  51 

"  Whate'r  his  name  he's  naught  but  a  black 
desarter  now,  an'  I'll  have  him  or  his  life !  He 
can't  have  gone  far!  What!  There's  been  hell 
to  pay  here !  By  the  Lord,  there's  Captain  Brus- 
sel!" 

That  was  enough  for  me.  With  two  men  rag 
ing  against  me,  and  a  third  who  would  obey  the 
orders  of  either,  it  behooved  me  to  get  out  of  that 
vicinity,  even  without  horse  and  baggage;  these  I 
might  get  later  from  Able.  For  now  I  was  indeed 
a  marked  man,  and  it  did  not  take  much  thought 
to  see  what  a  mess  I  had  allowed  my  loss  of  temper 
to  make  for  me.  My  duty  was  plain.  I  must 
lose  myself,  and  where  better  than  in  Boston? 
And  I  must  deliver  my  letters  to  Mr.  Adams  at 
once,  and  then  get  to  a  more  friendly  territory. 
Certainly  eastern  Massachusetts  was  no  place  for 
me;  for  the  ground  seemed  to  breed  British  sol 
diers,  and  the  hue  of  his  majesty's  hated  uniform 
colored  all  things. 

So,  with  a  quiet  step  that  was  very  like  sneaking, 
I  stole  away  from  the  window,  and  not  until  I  was 
well  among  the  shadows  did  I  lose  the  fear  that 
a  musket-ball  would  follow  me.  I  little  dreamed 
how  soon  musket-balls  would  be  whistling  through 
that  very  air,  or  that  the  first  blood  of  the  Revo 
lution  was  to  be  shed  in  less  than  seven  hours. 
For  it  was  about  midnight  when  I  came  out  upon 
the  main  road  and  footed  it  quickly  toward  Bos 
ton.  As  I  have  said,  it  was  a  fine  moonlit  night 


52  THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

after  a  warm  day,  but  now  there  was  a  chill  in  the 
air  that  made  motion  agreeable.  I  was  in  fine 
fettle  as  I  strode  briskly  along  the  lonely  and 
dusty  road,  and  the  only  thing  that  then  puzzled 
me  was  what  had  become  of  Moon?  I  had 
looked  to  see  him  return  to  the  coffee-room,  and 
wondered  if  he  could  have  met  with  mishap,  feel 
ing  as  if  I  were  deserting  a  friend  in  trouble. 

But  I  need  not  have  worried. 

I  did  not  then  know  the  resourcefulness  of  the 
old  man,  but  I  learned  something  of  it  later;  nor 
did  I  know  that  my  actions  had  been  marked  by 
him  and  had  won  a  passport  to  his  friendship. 


CHAPTER  VI 

A   REVELATION 

I  HAD  not  trudged  far  along  the  deserted 
highway  when  it  occurred  to  me  that  it 
would  be  the  height  of  folly  to  attempt  to 
enter  Boston  by  way  of  the  "  Neck,"  which  I  had 
heard  was  fortified. 

It  is  true  that  at  that  time  Gage  had  not  quite 
dared  to  interfere  with  the  coming  and  going  of 
citizens  from  the  city,  but  I  was  shrewd  enough  to 
guess  that  an  excuse  would  be  made  to  hold  me  if 
I  attempted  to  pass  at  that  hour.  I  considered  it 
wiser  to  enter  Boston  from  another  direction  — 
that  is,  I  would  go  to  Charlestown  that  night,  and 
cross  the  Charles  by  the  penny  ferry  in  the  early 
morning. 

I  walked  due  east,  humming  a  tune  and  nursing 
a  feeling  of  warm  satisfaction  at  having  bested 
my  old  collegemate,  and  had  gone  less  than  a  mile 
on  my  way,  and  there  was  no  sound  of  pursuit 
behind  me,  when  ahead,  by  the  side  of  the  white 
and  moonlit  road,  I  saw  a  man  sitting  on  a 
bowlder.  Having  nothing  to  fear  from  any  one 
in  front,  I  continued  on,  mighty  curious  until,  com 
ing  opposite  the  figure,  I  stopped  short.  For 
there,  wan-faced,  sat  the  youth  I  had  rescued,  his 

53 


54  THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

cloak  drawn  tightly  about  him,  looking  at  me  with 
frightened  eyes. 

"Why,  hello,  youngster!"  I  exclaimed  in  as 
tonishment,  for  I  had  not  thought  of  ever  seeing 
him  again. 

"Oh!  Is  it  you?"  he  returned,  and  in  both 
looks  and  voice  he  showed  relief. 

"  I  fancy  I  am  not  to  be  mistaken  for  many," 
I  answered,  good  naturedly;  "  I  thought  you  were 
farther  along  on  your  journey.  Whither  bound, 
my  lad?" 

''  To  Boston,"  he  returned,  a  note  of  weariness 
in  his  voice,  "  but  I  am  very  tired,  having  walked 
a  long  way." 

"  Ay?     And  from  where  do  you  hail?  " 

"  From  the  Hampshire  Grants,  sir." 

"  And  a  good  walk  indeed  for  a  youngster  of 
your  stripe !  Well,  we  beat  yon  lobster-back,  did 
we  not?  " 

"  I  can  hardly  say  that  we  did,"  he  answered, 
emphasizing  the  "  we."  "  But  I  am  very  glad 
you  have  overtaken  me,  sir,  for  I  have  yet  to  thank 
you  for  your  kindness  and  bravery."  With  that, 
and  without  offering  to  rise,  he  made  room  for 
me  on  the  great  bowlder,  and  I,  willing  to  rest  a 
moment,  dropped  beside  him,  and  pulling  out  my 
pipe,  filled  and  lighted  it,  my  ears  always  open  for 
a  sound  on  the  road  from  the  west. 

"  So  you  are  bound  for  Boston,  are  you, 
younker  ?  "  I  said.  "  Well,  you  be  off  the  way  un- 


A  REVELATION  55 

less  you  mean  to  go  In  at  the  back  door.  A  fine 
muss  I  am  in,  and  on  your  account,  though  I  am 
not  finding  fault  with  you." 

And  then  I  gave  him  a  hurried  sketch  of  what  I 
had  been  through  and  how  I  had  been  obliged  to 
run  away  without  my  horse. 

"  I  am  very  sorry,"  he  said  simply.  And  he 
looked  sorry. 

Now  he  was  only  a  boy,  and  a  weak-spirited  one 
at  that;  but  to  me  tears  carry  no  respect  with  them, 
and  to  see  this  stripling  looking  as  if  ready  to  weep 
over  an  adventure  that  had  but  stirred  my  blood 
put  me  out  of  patience. 

"  My  lad,"  said  I,  "  it  comes  to  me  that  no 
mortal  is  more  out  of  place  than  are  you.  Tell 
me  what  brings  you  here.  You  are  no  more  than 
a  baby,  and  not  fit  to  leave  home." 

With  that  he  drew  himself  up  with  an  air  of 
being  offended,  as  weak  folks  are  apt  to  do,  but 
he  made  no  retort.  Presently,  thinking  that  I 
had  taken  so  much  interest  in  him  that  I  might  as 
well  know  more,  I  began  to  question  him  gently 
and  soon  got  his  story.  It  was  short,  and  tame 
enough.  He  was  seventeen,  he  said,  and  had 
never  been  away  from  home  before.  His  father 
had  but  just  died,  and  he  had  been  left  alone  in 
the  world.  But  there  was  a  lawyer  in  Boston  who 
had  known  his  father  well  and  who  had  his  affairs 
in  charge,  and  this  stripling  was  on  his  way  to 
see  the  man  of  law,  and  expected  to  get  his 


5 6  THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

father's  estate,  or  at  least  money  enough  to  keep 
body  and  soul  together. 

For  lack  of  present  funds  he  had  slowly  and 
painfully  traveled  afoot  for  two  days,  and  was 
well  tired  out. 

"And  who  is  the  man  you  hope  to  see?"  I 
asked,  not  really  caring. 

"  One  Squire  Dench,"  he  said. 

I  almost  leaped  to  my  feet  at  the  name. 

"Squire  Dench?"  I  cried. 

"  And  why  not  ?  "  he  asked.  "  It  is  to  his  house 
I  am  traveling." 

"  He  is  a  sound  man  and  a  patriot,"  I  returned. 
"  One  of  the  committee  of  correspondence." 

"  Then  why  did  you  start  at  the  name?  "  asked 
the  youth. 

"  Well,  my  lad,"  I  answered,  "  because  this 
same  Squire  Dench  happens  to  be  the  uncle  of  the 
impudent  officer  whom  I  came  close  to  throwing 
from  the, window  from  which  I  was  compelled  to 
leap  myself.  'Tis  a  strange  coincidence,  but  can 
mean  nothing." 

"  And  you  know  him?  What  manner  of  man 
is  Squire  Dench?  "  asked  the  boy.  "  I  confess  I 
have  no  knowledge  of  him,  and,  as  my  father's 
death  was  sudden,  he  could  not  advise  me." 

"  Well,"  said  I,  "  Dench  is  a  close-fisted  miser 
when  it  comes  to  matters  of  money.  He  is  old 
enough  to  be  my  father,  and  is  a  man  of  sterling 
sense  in  most  things.  I  have  heard  whispers 


A  REVELATION  57 

about  him,  but  who  is  not  whispered  about? 
However,  things  be  at  a  fine  pass  when  matters 
fall  in  this  fashion.  For  I,  myself,  am  bound  for 
Bench's  house,  albeit  I  have  no  love  for  him  or  his 
ilk.  And  so,  he  has  your  money !  My  lad,  yours 
is  an  errand  for  a  man,  and  not  for  the  like  of 
you,  for  the  lawyer  is  a  hard  one  from  whom  to 
twist  a  shilling." 

"  Where  does  he  live?  "  came  from  the  youth. 

"  On  Milk  Street  —  or  he  used  to.  And  now 
if  you  will  pick  up  your  legs  we  will  get  on." 

I  rose  to  my  feet,  knocking  the  ashes  from  my 
pipe. 

But  the  boy  did  not  stir. 

"  I  do  not  know  your  name,  sir,"  he  said. 

"  'Tis  Darcy,  of  Harrington,"  I  replied. 
u  What's  yours,  younker?  " 

"Mine  is  Selden  —  Louis  Selden.  And  now, 
Mr.  Darcy,  I  cannot  go  with  you  until  I  have  told 
you  more.  Indeed,  I  must  trust  some  one,  and  I 
know  of  none  more  worthy  than  the  man  who 
saved  me.  You  are  a  brave  spirit,  and,  like  a 
brave  spirit,  an  honorable  one.  Indeed,  I  must 
tell  you." 

'  What  now?  "  said  I,  struck  by  the  boy's  ele 
gance  of  language,  and  wondering  what  was  com 
ing. 

"  It  is  this  — "  he  said,  drawing  his  cloak  tight 
about  his  slight  figure. 

But  he  got  no  further,   for  as  the  last  word 


5  8  THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

left  his  mouth  there  came  to  my  ear  a  sound  that 
made  me  lift  my  hand  to  silence  him.  I  had  heard 
it  faintly  before;  but  now  it  was  louder  and  grow 
ing,  being  the  sound  of  metal  against  metal  and 
borne  clearly  on  the  windless  air,  and  with  it  there 
was  the  tramp  of  many  feet  falling  in  unison.  It 
did  not  come  from  the  west,  from  which  direction 
I  was  half  expecting  trouble,  but  as  the  youth 
stopped  short  and  I  listened,  there  drifted  down 
from  eastward  the  clear,  ringing  neigh  of  a  horse, 
and  almost  the  next  instant,  on  the  moonlit  road 
where  it  curves  south  toward  Charlestown,  I  saw 
a  body  of  men  swing  into  sight,  and  the  moonlight 
glinted  from  a  line  of  polished  steel. 

Now,  save  through  intuition,  I  had  no  knowl 
edge  of  what  was  in  the  wind;  but  that  sixth  sense 
was  alert,  and  the  few  words  Moon  had  dropped 
helped  me  to  fathom  the  mystery  of  a  body  of 
armed  men  on  the  road  at  midnight,  and  the  pres 
ence  of  the  officer  and  soldiers  at  the  White  Horse 
was  accounted  for. 

Brussel  had  been  sent  forward  for  a  purpose, 
and  to  me  the  whole  matter  was  as  clear  as  it  be 
came  later.  Gage  had  decided  to  make  his  threat 
ened  move,  his  object  undoubtedly  being  a  raid  on 
Concord,  where  I  and  all  men  knew  that  many 
stores  had  been  gathered  by  the  committee  of 
safety  against  the  breaking  of  the  brewing  politi 
cal  storm.  Young  though  I  was,  I  was  no  fool, 
and  the  tremendous  nature  of  the  move  and  its 


A  REVELATION  59 

possible  consequences  stirred  me,  and  for  the  mo 
ment  made  me  forget  all  else. 

But  I  did  not  stand  wool-gathering  for  many 
seconds,  for  the  road  was  bright  as  need  be,  and 
I  knew  what  it  would  mean  to  be  picked  up  by  that 
silent  column.  We  had  been  seated  nearly  under 
a  tree,  Selden  and  I,  and  probably  the  dark  back 
ground  saved  us  from  immediate  observation;  but 
as  the  realization  of  our  danger  came  to  me  I 
turned  to  him  and  spoke  in  a  hurried  whisper: 
"  Lad,  you  will  have  to  elect  to  go  with  me  or  be 
arrested  by  those  coming  yonder.  If  with  me, 
you  must  hurry;  but  if  not,  do  not  tell  them  you 
had  a  companion." 

"What  is  it?"  he  asked,  clasping  his  hands 
like  a  woman  and  turning  pale,  though  he  had 
color  enough  the  moment  before. 

"  What  is  it !  Good  God !  Are  you  just  from 
your  mother's  breast?  Gage's  regulars  are  on  a 
mission  into  the  country !  Yonder  they  come ! 
And  there  is  going  to  be  hell  to  pay !  " 

With  that  I  left  him,  there  being  no  time  to 
lose,  and  bending  low,  ran  alongside  of  the  stone 
wall  fencing  the  road  until  I  came  to  a  pair  of 
bars.  Squeezing  between  them  I  threw  my 
self  on  the  dew-laden  grass,  placing  my  head 
where  I  could  command  a  view  of  the  highway.  I 
hardly  looked  for  the  boy  to  follow  me,  and,  in 
deed,  so  excited  had  I  suddenly  become  that  for 
the  moment  I  thought  nothing  about  him.  But  he 


60  THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

was  hard  behind  me,  it  appeared,  slipping  his  lithe 
figure  betwixt  the  bars,  but  instead  of  lying  by  my 
side  he  went  some  distance  away  and  hid  even 
from  my  eye. 

It  had  been  a  narrow  escape  for  us  —  or  I 
thought  it  narrow,  but,  God  wot,  it  had  perhaps 
been  better  for  us  both  had  the  vanguard  of  the 
little  army  captured  us  there  and  then,  though  in 
that  event  I  probably  would  have  had  no  story  to 
tell. 

On  came  the  advancing  column,  a  cloud  of  dust 
marking  its  wake,  for  the  weather  was  dry,  a  body 
of  men  four  abreast,  and  at  their  head  rode  an 
officer  on  a  bay  horse. 

There  was  something  mighty  sinister  in  that 
silent  host,  for  I  heard  not  a  word  as  they  passed. 
There  were  about  eight  hundred,  I  guessed,  each 
man  in  light  marching  order,  and  the  color  of  their 
coats  lay  like  a  splash  of  blood  on  the  highway. 
Not  a  scout  was  out,  not  a  skirmisher  in  advance, 
not  a  flanker  beat  the  fields  on  either  side  of  the 
road.  It  was  like  a  force  depending  for  its  safety 
more  on  secrecy  of  movement  than  on  military 
tactics.  Undoubtedly  it  was  meant  for  surprise. 

For  some  minutes  after  the  rear  of  the  column 
had  passed  I  remained  still,  fearing  to  be  seen  by 
a  possible  straggler,  then  I  rose  to  my  feet  and 
looked  at  the  distant  column  now  fogged  by  the 
dust  they  had  raised.  At  that  instant  I  heard  a 
church-bell  far  away,  the  sound  coming  down  the 


A  REVELATION  61 

still  night  air  with  strange  effect;  it  was  at  once 
followed  by  another,  fainter  in  the  distance  and 
being  rung  violently.  Then  came  the  far-off 
barking  of  a  dog,  and,  as  I  listened,  my  nerves 
quivering,  I  heard  the  muffled  report  of  a  dis 
tant  gun  —  an  alarm  gun. 

"  Thank  God,  the  quarry  is  awake  and  afoot!  " 
I  exclaimed,  half-aloud.  "  And  I  wonder  if 
Adams  or  Hancock,  or  perchance  Warren,  knows 
of  this!  "  And  then  I  decided  to  get  to  Doctor 
Warren  as  quickly  as  possible,  not  knowing  that 
his  eyes  were  never  closed  to  the  very  thing  that 
was  then  happening.  As  I  stood  there  thinking 
how  to  act,  Selden  appeared  from  somewhere,  and 
he  was  shaking  from  either  fright  or  a  chill.  I 
had  mighty  little  respect  for  this  weakling,  but  I 
could  not  abandon  him  there. 

"Why  were  you  so  frightened?"  he  asked, 
though  his  own  fear  stood  out  on  him  as  plainly 
as  the  nose  on  his  face.  I  did  not  trouble  myself 
to  answer  the  question,  being  more  than  anxious 
to  get  on. 

"  I  am  going  straight  to  Boston  this  night,  and 
by  way  of  the  Neck,"  I  said.  "  I  must  see  Dench, 
he  being  of  the  committee,  and  let  him  transmit 
the  news  of  this  night's  work.  If  you  care  to  go 
with  me  I  will  guide  you  to  the  lawyer's  house. 
Younker,  those  men  mean  war,  a  game  you  have 
little  to  do  with;  but  I  cannot  dawdle  over  it. 
.You  must  move  fast  if  with  me." 


62  THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

At  that  he  lifted  his  face  toward  me  with  a 
quick  turn  that  should  have  told  me  more  than 
it  did,  looking  squarely  at  me  as  we  stood  in  the 
open  meadow. 

"  Mr.  Darcy,"  he  said,  "  I  will  go  with  you, 
and  as  fast  as  I  can;  but  I  am  not  what  I  seem, 
and  it  is  your  due  to  know  it.  I  am  a  girl  and  not 
a  boy —  and  my  name  is  Louise  Selden." 

Had  she  struck  me  I  could  not  have  been  more 
surprised,  which  shows  I  am  sometimes  stupid; 
and  I  stood  staring  at  her,  at  which  she  gave  a 
low,  scared  laugh. 

"  I  little  wonder  that  you  are  astonished,"  she 
went  on  hurriedly,  "  and  I  did  not  look  to  de 
ceive  you  for  so  long.  Think  not  that  I  have 
unsexed  myself  without  good  reason  or  for  aught 
but  necessity.  I  travel  thus  for  self-protection. 
Place  me  before  Lawyer  Dench's  house  and  I 
will  ask  no  more,  and  be  deeply  in  your  debt." 

"Well,  by  Heaven,  Mistress  Selden!"  I  ex 
claimed  as  I  realized  what  a  blind  fool  I  had  been, 
for  now  her  sex  stood  out  in  voice  and  manner 
plainly  enough.  "  You  have  hit  me  hard,  and 
mayhap  I  have  been  over-rough  with  you;  but  I 
see  you  are  in  trouble,  and  I  will  not  desert  you. 
However,  it  bothers  me  to  know  why  you  ap 
pealed  to  me  in  the  tavern  when  you  had  but  to 
discover  yourself  to  the  sergeant,  and  he  would 
have  been  powerless  to  — " 

"  And  would  I  have  fared  better  than  I  have?  " 


A  REVELATION  63 

she  interrupted,  her  face  turning  scarlet  in  the 
moonlight. 

u  I  know  not,"  I  said. 

"  Nay,  but  I  do ;  for  he  knew  I  was  no  boy, 
though  he  made  as  if  he  took  me  for  one." 

"  He  knew!  "  I  exclaimed,  rather  than  asked. 

"  Ay,  since  it  is  now  plain  that  he  was  on  the 
watch  for  me.  I  had  just  passed  —  but  never 
mind  —  I  now  know  he  was  looking  for  a  maiden 
traveling  alone,  and  —  and  —  he  knew  me  for 
one  even  in  the  half-light." 

As  she  spoke,  standing  there  in  the  wet  grass, 
my  mind  reverted  to  Brussel  and  his  question  anent 
a  damsel  —  a  question  precipitating  hostilities  be 
tween  us.  My  wits,  never  too  brisk  I  fear,  be 
gan  to  work. 

"  Well,  the  sergeant  was  not  the  only  one  in 
terested  in  a  maiden  traveling  alone,"  I  said. 
"  For  the  officer  I  upset  after  you  left  probed  me 
on  the  same  matter." 

"Who  was  he?"  she  asked,  her  dark  eyes 
growing  wide. 

"  None  less  than  a  colonial  renegade  named 
Larry  Brussel —  And  by  the  Lord!"  I  ex 
claimed,  as  the  matter  suddenly  cleared  in  my 
brain,  "  I  have  eyes  to  see  through  a  ladder ! 
What  know  you  of  my  old  acquaintance,  Brussel? 
Lawyer  Dench  is  his  uncle,  and  it  is  to  Bench's 
house  that  we  are  both  going!  " 

I  thought  the  girl  was  about  to  faint  for  she 


64  THE  SPUR  OE  DANGER 

fell  up  against  the  stone  wall;  but  she  pulled 
herself  together  in  a  moment.  "Brussel?" 
she  finally  faltered.  "  Is  —  is  he  a  nephew  of 
Squire  Dench?  Oh,  I  cannot  go  there!  I  am 
? undone!  " 

She  shed  no  tears,  at  which  I  wondered,  con 
sidering  she  was  a  woman;  but  her  eyes  were  like 
stones,  and  her  face  in  the  moonlight  was  as  white 
as  marble. 

"What  have  you  against  Larry  Brussel?"  I 
asked. 

"  Enough  to  wish  never  to  see  him,"  she  re 
turned.  "  My  horse  broke  down  soon  after  I 
left  the  Hampshire  Grants,  and  I  abandoned  it. 
After  that  I  would  meet  no  officer,  fearing  it 
might  be  he,  and  when  I  first  saw  you  it  was  as 
I  came  from  hiding  in  a  field  to  let  an  officer  pass 
along  the  road." 

"Ay?  And  that  one  was  like  to  be  Larry 
himself.  He  later  came  back  to  the  White 
Horse." 

"  I  fear  it  was,"  she  said,  helplessly.  "  And 
now  what  can  I  do?  " 

"  Do  as  you  intended,"  I  returned,  thinking  I 
saw  matters  clearly.  "  Doubtless  Brussel  and  the 
old  man  are  at  swords'  points,  the  one  being  a 
royalist,  the  other  a  true  patriot,  albeit  a  stingy 
one.  Moreover,  the  officer  is  of  the  barracks, 
and  would  no  longer  make  his  home  with  his  uncle. 
You  would  there  be  in  little  danger  of  meeting 


"  T  am  a  girl  and  not  a  boy — and  my  name  is  Louise  Sheldon 


A  REVELATION  65 

him;  moreover,  your  guardian,  for  so  I  under 
stand  him  to  be,  would  protect  you." 

"  Heaven  grant  that  you  are  right !  "  she  said. 
"  For  I  know  of  no  other  place  to  go." 

"  And  why  do  you  fear  that  coward?  "  I  asked, 
wholly  without  tact,  for  it  was  none  of  my  busi 
ness. 

"I  —  I  cannot  tell  you  now,"  she  said.  "  I 
will  only  say  that  I  hate,  I  detest  him,  and  I  fear 
him." 

"  I  beg  a  thousand  pardons,"  I  returned. 
"  Keep  your  secrets." 

"  There  really  is  little  to  tell,"  she  said,  in  a 
desire  to  conciliate  me,  "  but  if  you  wish  — " 

"  I  do  not  wish,"  I  replied,  a  trifle  roughly. 
"  My  present  desire  is  to  get  to  Boston,  and  if 
you  will  have  faith  in  a  man  about  whom  you 
know  nothing  I  will  see  that  you  land  safely  in 
Dench's  house.  And  this  as  much  for  my  hatred 
for  Brussel  as  consideration  for  yourself." 

"  Oh,  I  will  go,  I  will  go !  "  she  exclaimed, 
clasping  me  by  the  arm.  "  You  are  an  honorable 
man  and  a  brave  one  — " 

"  Let  that  rest,"  I  said,  withdrawing  my  arm 
and  stepping  into  the  road.  "  I  take  it  that  no 
man  is  entitled  to  praise  for  being  honorable, 
while  as  for  his  bravery  —  that  must  be  proved." 

And  so  I  walked  along,  the  maiden  at  my  side, 
and  I  confess  that  I  felt  ashamed  of  myself  for 
having  been  ill-humored  with  her;  and  stole  many 


66  THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

a  look  at  her  face,  comely  enough  under  the  plain 
cocked  hat  she  wore;  comely?  ay,  and  more,  for 
I  saw  that  she  would  go  to  being  well-nigh  hand 
some  were  she  properly  dressed.  But  I  had  very 
little  to  say  to  her  as  we  walked  back  in  the  wake 
of  the  British  force,  she  hurrying  her  steps  to  keep 
up  with  my  stride,  a  stride  I  would  have  moder 
ated  only  that  speed  was,  to  my  mind,  of  the  ut 
most  importance.  And  not  a  word  of  complaint 
did  she  make  as  she  half  ran  beside  me,  her 
sweet  lips  apart  as  she  panted.  And  I,  with  my 
great  body  swinging  easily,  had  little  but  con 
tempt  for  such  weakness. 

How  I  have  since  hated  myself  for  my  un 
thinking  cruelty  that  night  —  for  not  being  able 
to  realize  that  a  frail  body  may  be  the  home  of 
an  indomitable  spirit,  of  bravery,  of  honor  and 
of  devotion.  Thank  God  my  eyes  were  opened 
in  time. 


CHAPTER  VII 

SQUIRE    DENCH 

IT  was  close  to  sunrise  ere  we  crossed  the  Neck 
and  entered  the  town  of  Boston  through  the 
barrier-gates  erected  by  Gage  and  of  which 
I  had  heard  so  much.  To  my  astonishment  the 
"  works,"  over  which  there  had  been  so  much 
ado,  at  that  time  amounted  to  little  more  than 
two  ditches  with  banks  of  earth,  there  being  a 
wide  passage  where  the  road  ran  betwixt  them. 
There  was  no  excitement  about,  and  only  a  couple 
of  sleepy-looking  sentinels  stood  in  our  way. 
They  let  us  pass  freely  enough,  though  had  we 
been  going  out  instead  of  In  it  would  have  been 
different,  as  I  now  know. 

I  was  glad  enough  that  there  was  no  interrup 
tion  to  our  progress,  having  been  in  some  doubt 
about  it.  It  is  true  that  both  guards  woke  up  and 
looked  sharply  at  us,  but  two  countrymen  going 
into  town  at  that  hour  was  not  a  suspicious  cir 
cumstance  at  that  time.  That  there  were  plenty 
of  soldiers  in  the  small  barrack  by  the  gate  was 
plain,  for  the  place  was  lighted,  but  there  was  no 
cannon  in  sight,  nor  was  there  anything  aggres 
sive  looking  save  the  start  of  a  fortification. 

67 


68  THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

Had  it  not  been  for  the  cloak  that  enveloped 
her  figure  I  might  never  have  brought  the  girl 
through  without  question;  for  now  she  was  a  weak 
and  dependent  woman,  in  all  but  appearance,  and 
for  the  last  two  miles  I  had  been  obliged  to  assist 
her,  and  she  hung  on  me  like  lead,  being  com-  - 
pletely  exhausted  from  excitement,  worry,  and  un 
wonted  exercise;  but  verily,  had  I  then  been  able 
to  glimpse  the  future  I  think  I  would  have  stag 
gered  at  it,  and  been  even  weaker  than  the  girl 
then  at  my  side. 

Over  the  old  corduroy  road  we  walked  until 
we  struck  the  thickly  inhabited  town,  and  at  last 
I  halted  on  Milk  Street  and  opposite  the  door  of 
Squire  Thaddeus  Dench,  his  name  on  the  dingy 
brass  plate  appearing  in  exactly  the  same  stage 
of  neglect  as  when  I  had  last  seen  it. 

By  then  the  girl  was  almost  fainting  from  weari 
ness,  and  dropped  on  the  marble  horse-block  while 
I  ran  up  the  low  step  and  rapped  with  the  knocker. 

Though  the  sun  was  barely  above  the  horizon 
and  the  hour  early  the  door  was  opened  by  Dench 
himself,  and  he  was  fully  dressed.  This  did  not 
occur  to  me  as  unusual,  though  I  might  have 
known  it  was,  but  I  was  too  glad  to  reach  my  * 
journey's  end  to  note  the  alacrity  with  which  he 
appeared  when  another  man  would  have  had  scant 
time  to  get  his  legs  out  of  bed. 

He  was  no  stranger  to  me,  nor  I  to  him.  I 
had  met  him  in  years  gone  by  and  had  often  seen 


SQUIRE  DENCH  69 

him  striding  along  the  street,  his  tall,  thin  figure 
slightly  bent,  his  hands  clasped  behind  him.  He 
had  always  looked  poorly  groomed,  always  seemed 
needing  a  shave,  and  always  showed  grains  of 
snuff  on  the  none  too  immaculate  ruffles  of  his 
shirt.  And  now  he  was  in  all  unchanged,  even  to 
the  three  days'  stubble  on  his  protruding  chin  and 
the  snuff  on  his  shirt-front.  His  gray  hair  was 
queued  with  a  gray  ribbon,  and  his  gray  clothing, 
his  pale  face,  and  the  aforesaid  gray  stubble  gave 
him  an  exceedingly  flat  appearance. 

But  his  eyes  made  amends  for  the  rest,  light 
blue  though  they  were.  Like  sparks  from  grind 
ing  steel  they  seemed,  and  one  might  have  known 
the  man  was  a  lawyer,  and  a  shrewd  one,  by  the 
quick,  sharp  voice  that  went  with  his  sharper 
glance. 

I  confess,  patriot  though  he  was,  I  never  liked 
the  man.  I  could  not  abide  the  soft  rubbing  to 
gether  of  his  bony  hands  as  he  listened  when  be 
ing  talked  to ;  I  did  not  like  the  stoop  to  his  slight 
figure,  nor  the  furtive  expression  of  his  too  light 
eyes;  I  never  liked  his  forever  pleading  poverty 
himself,  and  probing  others  for  funds  for  the 
"  cause."  But  he  was  a  man  whose  sense  was 
sound,  or  I  thought  so,  and  whose  honor  I  consid 
ered  above  question,  and  he  was  just  the  man  to 
give  me  advice  in  my  present  dilemma. 

So  I  was  glad  to  see  him  stick  his  head  from  the 
door,  mightily,  too,  as  though  he  was  expecting 


70  THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

some  one,  for  when  he  saw  what  he  thought  were 
two  strangers  he  pursed  his  thin  lips  and  brought 
his  forehead  into  a  scowl. 

"  What's  wanted?  "  he  snapped. 

"  You  are,"  I  snapped  back. 

"And  who  are  you?  'Tis  the  wrong  house 
you  have  come  to,  I  make  no  doubt." 

"  Not  if  you  are  Lawyer  Dench,"  I  said.  "  I 
am  Allen  Darcy,  of  Berkshire,  and  have  come  to 
shift  a  burden  in  the  shape  of  Mistress  Louise 
Selden,  who  has  been  traveling  to  see  you." 

At  that  his  manner  altered  in  a  twinkling,  and 
I  think  he  recoiled  a  step  or  so,  but  quickly  re 
covered  himself. 

"  You  are  Allen  Darcy,  son  of  Judge  Darcy,  of 
Berkshire?" 

"  Just  that  same." 

"  And  where  —  You  said  something  of 
Louise  Selden." 

"  She  is  here,  and  nigh  dead  from  fatigue." 
And  I  pointed  to  the  drooping  figure  on  the  horse 
block.  The  man  made  some  kind  of  a  noise  in 
his  throat,  but  he  did  not  appear  surprised  at  the 
girl's  costume.  He  had  us  both  into  the  house 
at  once,  closing  the  door  behind  him,  and  I  saw 
I  had  made  no  mistake  in  bringing  the  maiden 
there;  one  might  have  thought  that  Dench  had 
found  a  long-lost  daughter  instead  of  having  had 
thrust  upon  him  a  girl  I  knew  he  had  never  seen. 
For  he  hung  over  like  a  superannuated  lover,  even 


SQUIRE  DENCH  71 

kissing  her  drawn  cheek,  at  which  last,  somehow 
or  other,  I  felt  a  quick  resentment. 

But  the  young  lady  was  now  so  far  gone  in 
fatigue  that  I  think  any  man  might  have  kissed 
her  without  her  caring,  and  when  at  last  the  old 
man  put  his  arm  around  her  and  led  her  away, 
first  locking  the  front  door,  she  only  held  out  her 
hand  to  me  as  if  in  thanks  for  what  I  had  done 
for  her,  for  never  a  word  did  she  speak,  though 
she  smiled  at  me  over  her  shoulder  as  she  dragged 
herself  up  the  broad  stairway. 

I  thought  it  strange  that  Dench  did  not  summon 
his  housekeeper,  for  he  had  no  wife,  or  some  do 
mestic  to  take  charge  of  the  girl;  but  he  escorted 
her  alone,  and  it  was  many  a  day  ere  I  saw  Miss 
Louise  Selden  again,  though  I  then  hoped  to  see 
her  on  the  morrow.  As  for  me,  apparently 
ignored  by  the  man,  I  walked  into  the  first  open 
room  I  saw,  which  happened  to  be  the  lawyer's 
office  at  the  end  of  the  great  hall,  and  waited  for 
him  to  appear.  This  room  was  a  fair-sized  one, 
and  being  an  attorney's,  was  well  lined  with  books, 
while  its  furniture  bespoke  the  owner  to  be  well- 
to-do  if  not  wealthy. 

The  apartment  was  close  and  hot,  as  if  a  lamp 
had  burned  there  all  night,  and  being  warm  and 
tired  myself,  I  took  off  my  hat  and  sat  down  while 
I  looked  round,  wondering  at  the  closed  windows 
and  the  meaning  of  so  many  doors  in  so  unpreten 
tious  a  room. 


72  THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

Presently  Dench  came  in  and  it  was  easy  to  see 
that  he  was  pleased  about  something,  for  his  face 
was  wrinkled  into  what  was  meant  to  be  a  smile 
as  he  seated  himself  before  me,  his  back  to  the 
light. 

"  And  now,  son  of  my  old  friend,"  he  said, 
scraping  the  stubble  on  his  chin  with  his  clawlike 
fingers,  "  I  know  you  wish  to  see  me.  Your 
young  charge  is  well  taken  care  of  and  will  rest. 
She  has  inferred  that  you  needed  my  assistance. 
I  will  hear  your  story,  sir." 

Now,  being  practically  at  my  journey's  end, 
and  having  had  no  restrictions  as  to  Dench  put 
upon  me  by  my  father,  I  felt  warranted  in  at  last 
speaking  freely  and  so  I  retailed  the  story  of  the 
night's  work,  from  my  rescue  of  the  girl  to  our 
arrival  in  front  of  his  house. 

I  left  out  nothing,  though  I  touched  modestly 
on  my  bout  with  his  nephew,  and  was  ready  to 
justify  myself  if  he  caviled  at  it.  But  he  did  not, 
only  softly  rubbing  his  hands  and  nodding  his 
head,  his  sharp  eyes  boring  me  the  while  except 
when  he  shifted  them  to  the  tall  clock  in  the  cor 
ner,  which  was  often  enough  to  have  me  remember 
it.  When  I  had  done  he  said : 

"  You  need  have  no  compunctions  regarding 
your  treatment  of  my  nephew.  He  and  I  have 
drawn  apart.  You  acted  as  a  man  should  —  as 
I  would  have  done  with  him  had  I  been  able.  As 


SQUIRE  DENCH  73 

for  the  rest,  I  will  stand  behind  you  with  the  law, 
though  you  will  understand  that  my  political  sym 
pathies  have  put  me  out  of  favor  with  the  author 
ities,  even  as  it  has  you.  My  son,  I  heard  about 
and  honor  you  for  your  patriotic  act  in  putting 
down  Judge  Evers." 

"  And  you  knew  of  it?  "  I  exclaimed. 

"Yes,  my  son;  and  who  does  not?  And  I  — 
er  —  understand  that  an  important  errand  brings 
you  to  Boston.  Am  I  not  right?" 

"  You  are  right,  sir,"  I  said,  "  though  it  both 
ers  me  to  guess  how  you  knew  unless  my  father 
wrote  you  unknown  to  me." 

The  lawyer  brought  his  eyelids  close  together 
and  smiled.  "  I  think  you  may  trust  your  father's 
discretion  as  well  as  my  ability  to  keep  a  secret, 
my  son.  Perhaps  I  can  help  you." 

"  Hardly,"  I  said,  "  seeing  that  it  is  a  personal 
matter  betwixt  myself  and  Doctor  Joseph  War 
ren  under  whom  I  hope  to  learn  to  be  a  leech." 

"And  is  that  all?"  he  asked,  with  an  air  of 
quick  disappointment. 

"  Nay,"  said  I.  "  My  father  told  me  it  was 
likely  that  you  could  locate  Mr.  Adams  for  me, 
as  I  have  important  matter  to  deliver  as  soon  as 
may  be." 

"  Ah  —  of  what  nature  ?  " 

"  In  the  way  of  letters  from  Doctor  Benjamin 
Franklin." 


74  THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

The  man  did  not  turn  a  hair  as  he  heard  this; 
and  after  a  moment  of  delay  in  which  I  thought  he 
was  trying  to  locate  Mr.  Adams,  he  said : 

"  I  have  reason  to  believe  that  Mr.  Adams  is 
out  of  town,  the  warrant  signed  against  him  and 
Hancock  having  made  him  a  fugitive.  But,  sir, 
as  a  friend  of  the  cause  I  think  I  can  direct  you  to 
him.  Of  course  you  could  not  trust  those  letters 
to  me?" 

The  last  was  a  question,  pure  and  simple. 

"  Nor  to  any  other  man,"  I  returned.  "  They 
are  of  the  utmost  importance,  and  I  was  strictly 
enjoined  to  — " 

"Of  course  —  of  course,"  he  interrupted. 
'  You  are  wiser  than  most  men  of  your  age. 
But  come  —  you  must  be  tired  out  from  your 
night's  work.  Come  with  me  —  come  with  me ; 
by  sunset  I  may  be  able  to  point  out  Mr.  Adams 
to  you." 

And  he  fully  expected  to,  the  double-faced  vil 
lain,  undoubtedly  believing  that  both  Hancock  and 
Adams  had  been  seized  :n  the  raid  of  which  he  was 
perfectly  aware.  I  the.,  had  no  suspicion  of  the 
man's  duplicity,  though  I  was  not  long  in  ignorance 
of  it,  and  followed  him  up-stairs  and  into  a  small 
back  room,  where  he  left  me,  telling  me  I  need  not 
rise  for  breakfast  —  that  he  would  send  it  to  me. 
And  so  he  went  out  after  wishing  me  a  good  rest. 

Now  when  I  think  of  this  old  wretch  my  blood 
boils;  but  then  I  had  not  the  first  suspicion  that  he 


SQUIRE  DENCH  75 

was  not  all  he  appeared  to  be,  and  congratulated 
myself  on  the  easy  termination  of  my  trip  and  my 
y/isdom  in  going  to  Dench  for  advice. 

Though  tired  I  was  not  sleepy,  and  after  taking 
off  my  shoes  to  ease  my  feet,  and  throwing  my  coat 
on  the  bed,  I  went  to  the  single  window  of  the 
room  and  looked  out. 

Close  to  the  house  I  could  see  little  because  of 
the  extension  roof  beneath  my  window ;  but  beyond 
it  the  view  was  broad  enough.  Some  twenty  feet 
from  the  extension,  and  toward  a  corner  of  the 
house,  was  a  well,  while  from  it  and  running 
toward  the  house  was  a  ditch  recently  opened,  the 
flag-stones  that  had  covered  it  lying  strewn  along 
its  side.  I  did  not  know  that  the  well  was  a  run 
ning  one,  and  the  ditch  intended  for  a  pipe  to  con 
duct  the  water  to  the  house;  but  the  lack  of  knowl 
edge  mattered  nothing  then,  though  later  the  ditch 
mattered  everything  to  me.  I  glanced  at  it  casu 
ally,  then  looked  beyond  it  to  where  many  trees 
were  standing  over  toward  the  next  street;  but  the 
abutting  garden  was  divided  from  the  lawyer's 
property  by  a  high  fence  in  which  was  a  gate.  As 
I  stood  there  in  the  growing  day,  it  now  being  close 
to  seven  o'clock,  I  saw  a  negress,  a  woman  of 
immense  figure,  go  from  the  extension  and  draw 
water  from  the  well,  and  when  she  disappeared 
there  was  no  sign  of  life  in  any  direction,  and  the 
embargoed  city  seemed  like  a  deserted  one,  it  was 
so  quiet. 


76  THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

I  turned  from  the  window  wondering  in  what 
part  of  the  house  lay  the  girl  who  had  been  my 
companion,  when  my  ear  caught  the  ruffle  of  hoofs 
going  at  speed  on  the  street  beyond.  I  again 
turned  to  the  window  just  as  the  sound  stopped, 
but  my  curiosity  was  more  than  satisfied,  for  as  I 
wondered  what  could  make  one  ride  so  fast  so 
early,  the  door,  or  gate,  in  the  board  fence  opened 
to  admit  a  man,  a  British  officer,  as  I  knew  by  his 
uniform,  and  I  staggered  back  as  I  recognized  him 
as  no  less  a  person  than  Lawrence  Brussel,  the 
same  whom  I  had  laid  on  the  broad  of  his  back 
hardly  eight  hours  before. 

What  in  the  devil  was  he  doing  here  ? 

He  did  not  go  in  at  the  rear  entrance,  for  I  had 
not  fairly  recovered  from  my  surprise  at  seeing 
him  before  he  was  hammering  at  the  front  door 
and  making  as  great  an  ado  as  if  his  case  was  a 
matter  of  life  and  death. 

That  something  was  up  I  had  not  the  least 
doubt,  and  to  me  that  "  something "  was  that 
Brussel  had  tracked  me  to  his  uncle's  house,  and 
despite  the  fact  that  the  two  had  drawn  apart,  he 
had  followed  from  a  desire  for  vengeance. 

I  could  then  conceive  no  other  possible  reason 
for  his  coming,  and  his  hurried  manner  warranted 
the  conclusion;  anyway,  instead  of  running  down 
to  meet  the  man  I  quietly  stepped  into  the  hall, 
and  protected  by  the  gloom  from  being  seen  from 
below,  leaned  over  the  balustrade.  Even  then  I 


SQUIRE  DENCH  77 

could  not  see  the  front  door,  but  my  ears  served 
me  where  my  eyes  failed. 

I  had  hardly  arrived  at  my  post  when  I  heard 
Dench  shuffle  through  the  hall  and  open  the  door, 
and  his  cry  of  surprise  was  unfeigned  as  he  saw  his 
nephew.  But  there  was  no  indication  of  enmity 
or  even  estrangement  between  the  two.  The  first 
words  were  by  Brussel: 

"  What  a  time  I've  had  getting  here !  " 

"  I  looked  for  you  hours  ago,  and  have  been 
waiting  well-nigh  all  night,"  was  the  old  man's 
response,  and  at  that  moment  the  devil  of  sus 
picion  against  him  flew  to  me,  lit  on  my  shoulder 
and  whispered  in  my  ear. 

;'  Well,  it  is  cursed  lucky  that  I  am  here  at  all," 
said  Brussel,  stepping  into  the  hall.  "  I  am  un 
done  in  every  way." 

"  But  they  got  Hancock  and  Adams?  " 

"  No  —  curse  it  —  no !  The  whole  thing  is  a 
mistake!  Gage  has  been  fooled!  The  rebels 
were  out  in  force,  and  when  I  came  away  they  were 
driving  Pitcairn's  regiment  like  sheep !  Good 
God!  Think  of  a  horde  of  farmers  driving  a 
king's  regiment.  Pitcairn  will  never  hold  up  his 
head  again.  He  sent  a  wild  call  for  help,  and  I 
met  Lord  Percy  hurrying  to  his  relief,  but  as  I  am 
on  leave  and  not  detailed  to  take  part  in  the  muss 
I  came  right  here.  For  you  and  me  there  is  worse 
news.  The  girl  has  escaped." 

The  man's  voice  was  unguarded. 


78  THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

"Hush  —  hush!"  said  Bench,  evidently  clap 
ping  a  hand  over  his  nephew's  mouth. 

"  Damn  it!  Don't  do  that!  I  am  no  child! 
What  do  you  mean?  "  asked  Brussel,  in  a  high- 
pitched  and  impatient  voice. 

'  You  ought  to  be  gagged,"  returned  the  old 
man.  "  You  are  giving  me  stale  news.  Nothing 
has  been  lost.  Get  into  the  office;  I  want  to  talk 
to  you." 

Here  was  "  Matter  for  a  May  morning  " ;  here 
was  food  for  thought  —  and  for  rapid  thought. 
To  my  mind  the  girl  who  had  "  escaped  "  could  be 
none  but  the  girl  I  had  rescued  from  the  sergeant 
and  who  had  spoken  of  Hotfoot  Brussel  in  terms 
of  execration.  It  was  no  time  for  me  to  consider 
the  ethics  of  my  position  in  Thaddeus  Dench's 
house.  Something  unusual  was  in  the  air  and  I 
felt  that  it  behooved  me  to  learn  the  nature  of  it, 
if  possible,  and  that  for  the  sake  of  the  young  lady 
for  whom,  in  a  measure,  I  felt  responsible.  That 
I  might  learn  anything  regarding  my  own  interests 
I  did  not  dream. 

Therefore,  with  hardly  a  moment  of  hesitation 
I  determined  to  let  the  finer  points  of  honor  blow 
to  where  they  might;  so,  without  returning  to  my 
room  I  went  softly  down  the  stairs  in  my  unshod 
feet,  and  within  the  space  of  ten  seconds  my  ear 
was  against  the  panel  of  the  office-door. 

It  is  fair  adage  that  listeners  hear  no  good  of 


SQUIRE  BENCH  79 

themselves,  and  I  was  no  exception  to  the  rule,  for, 
hardly  had  I  glued  my  ear  to  the  door  than  as 
distinct  as  if  I  were  in  the  room  came  the  words 
from  Dench: 

"  Sit  down  and  listen  to  me,  Larry.  The  fat  is 
not  in  the  fire.  Tell  me  your  story  quietly."  I 
heard  a  chair  rasp  on  the  polished  floor;  then  came 
Brussel's  voice: 

"  There's  little  to  tell,  but  there  is  much  I  wish 
to  know.  The  girl  got  by  me  in  disguise,  an  old 
enemy  of  mine  helping  her,  though  he  little 
dreamed  of  who  she  is.  I  met  the  fellow  later." 

"  Ay,  I  know;  and  he  manhandled  you." 

Brussel  gave  an  exclamation  of  genuine  astonish 
ment.  "  And  how  could  you  know?"  he  asked. 

"  Because  he  told  me  of  it  himself.  There  are 
two  fools  up-stairs,  one  the  biggest  fool  for  one  of 
his  years  I  ever  beheld.  You  may  soon  ease  your 
spleen  on  him,  but  not  until  I  have  from  him  cer 
tain  letters.  This  will  be  your  business.  Do  you 
follow  me?  " 

"  Are  you  speaking  of — " 

"  I  am  speaking  of  Allen  Darcy,"  interrupted 
the  old  man.  "  He  is  now  up-stairs  and  probably 
asleep.  You  — " 

Brussel  evidently  bounded  from  his  seat. 

"  Do  you  mean  to  tell  me  that  Allen  Darcy  is 
under  this  roof?  By  Heaven,  I'll  have  his  life. 
Where  does  he  lie?  " 


8o  THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

As  he  spoke,  or  rather  shouted,  he  evidently 
sprang  for  the  door,  for  his  hand  turned  the  knob, 
and  then  I  started  back  determined  to  close  with 
him  the  instant  he  appeared. 


CHAPTER  yill 

EAVESDROPPING 

BUT  the  door  did  not  open  then,  and  Heaven 
only  knows  whether  this  was  fortunate  or 
otherwise,  but  as  the  knob  turned  I  was 
aware  that  Brussel's  hand  was  jerked  from  it  by 
the  old  man,  who  had  jumped  forward,  for  his 
high-pitched  voice  was  now  close  to  the  panels. 

"Have  you  gone  crazy,  you  young  idiot?" 
demanded  Dench.  "  Are  you  going  to  spoil 
everything,  like  a  mad  boy?  Do  as  you  wish 
later,  but  if  you  go  up  to  him  now  you  will  ruin 
me,  if  not  yourself !  Sit  down ;  sit  down  and  listen 
to  reason.  Darcy  is  safe  enough;  and  when  I 
have  told  you  more,  it  is  likely  you  will  forget  the 
fellow.  I  have  the  cake  of  the  two  about  baked; 
would  you  make  dough  of  it?  " 

I  heard  them  retreat  from  the  door,  and  lost  no 
time  in  again  getting  my  ear  to  it,  though  at  each 
moment  I  expected  to  be  discovered  by  some 
domestic.  However,  I  soon  lost  thought  of  any 
risk  from  that  direction. 

'  What  the  deuce  do  you  mean  by  two  of 
them?"  asked  Brussel,  evidently  seating  himself. 

81 


82  THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

"  You'll  know  in  time,"  returned  Dench,  lower 
ing  his  voice,  which,  though  still  distinct,  quivered 
from  past  excitement.  "  Let  me  tell  you,  in  the 
first  place,  that  Darcy  thinks  I  am  yet  of  the  rebel 
committee  of  correspondence,  and,  therefore,  he 
has  abounding  faith  in  me. 

"  If  he  should  know,  or  suspect,  that  I  had  been 
but  spying,  his  confidence  would  be  lost  and  I 
would  be  in  danger  from  him,  for  he  is  a  reckless 
young  devil,  as  was  shown  by  his  treatment  of 
Judge  Evers.  The  judge  told  me  of  it  himself. 
He  could  hang  Darcy  with  a  good  grace." 

"  He  always  was  a  reckless  devil,"  interposed 
Brussel.  "  He  gained  the  name  of  Devil  years 
ago  when  — " 

"  I  care  nothing  how  he  gained  his  name,"  inter 
rupted  the  old  man,  "  but  at  this  present  moment 
he  has  letters  on  his  person  which,  could  I  present 
to  Gage,  would  be  the  making  of  me  and  intrench 
me  against  another  matter  going  wrong.  And 
they  probably  contain  information  which  would 
compromise  many  who  are  yet  unsuspected." 

"  And  I  promise  you  shall  have  them  when  I 
again  lay  hands  on  the  villain." 

"  Then,  there  is  the  matter  of  more  importance 
to  both  of  us." 

"What  can  be  more  important?"  sneered 
Brussel. 

"  What  great  matter  is  interesting  you  and  me 
at  present?"  snapped  back  Dench.  "Is  Louise 


EAVESDROPPING  83 

Selden  no  great  matter?  You  know  how  we 
stand." 

"  I  can  cursed  well  guess  how  I  stand  with  her !  " 
was  the  surly  reply.  "  Somehow,  she  learned  I 
was  going  to  her,  and  so  she  took  immediate  occa 
sion  to  run  away,  dressed  as  a  boy.  I  got  leave, 
as  you  know,  and  traveled  up  to  the  Hampshire 
Grants,  only  to  find  her  just  gone.  She  left  a  note 
with  her  fool  of  a  sister,  who,  however  she  wishes 
me  as  a  brother-in-law,  hasn't  wit  enough  to  in 
fluence  the  girl.  No  one  knew  in  what  direction 
she  escaped,  though  I  learned  later.  Like  an  ass 
I  went  to  please  you,  and  like  an  ass  came  back. 
I  had  but  just  reached  barracks  and  reported  when 
Colonel  Dalrymple  ordered  me  out  to  Cambridge 
with  a  picked  squad  to  intercept  any  information 
of  the  raid  going  abroad.  I  was  to  be  considered 
relieved  on  the  passing  of  Pitcairn. 

"  Well,  at  the  White  Horse  I  met  with  Darcy, 
not  knowing  him  at  first.  It  matters  nothing  how 
it  came  about,  but  he  always  hated  me,  from  envy, 
likely ;  anyway,  he  took  me  by  surprise  —  foully 
and  treacherously  by  surprise  • —  and  threw  me, 
then,  fearing  my  vengeance,  he  ran  away  at  once. 
Later,  Pitcairn  went  by,  though  in  the  meantime 
I  had  learned  enough  from  the  sergeant  there  to 
believe  that  Louise  had  appeared  at  the  White 
Horse  under  the  name  of  Louis  Selden.  I  had 
told  him  to  be  on  the  watch  for  a  disguised  woman, 
and  he  suspected  her  and  held  her  for  my  coming. 


84  THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

However,  she  appealed  to  this  Darcy,  who  was  in 
the  coffee-room  at  the  time,  and  he  assisted  her  to 
run  away,  to  that  end  assaulting  the  sergeant. 
You  may  imagine  how  I  feel  to  be  twice  flouted  by 
the  same  man  on  the  same  night  —  to  say  nothing 
of  the  girl.  It  would  have  been  easy  to  catch 
either  had  I  the  hound  with  me,  but  — " 

"  Ay !  "  interrupted  Dench  with  an  impatient 
sneer  in  his  voice.  "  More's  the  pity  if  you  think 
that  the  brute,  having  caught  and  mangled  them, 
would  settle  everything!  Why  was  he  not  trail 
ing  at  your  heels  as  usual?  " 

"  Because  he  came  nigh  to  killing  a  soldier  last 
week.  He  has  turned  ugly,  and  I,  myself,  have 
grown  afraid  of  him.  I  gave  him  to  my  sergeant 
to  care  for  for  a  time.  Let  that  pass.  I  came 
here  to  give  you  the  facts,  thinking  the  girl  might 
point  toward  you,  as  would  be  natural." 

"  You  are  right,  my  lad,"  said  Dench.  "  She 
did  point  toward  me;  and  at  this  moment  she  is 
under  my  roof.  The  two  came  together." 

"  The  devil!  "  The  exclamation  from  Brussel 
was  forcible. 

"There  —  there;  sit  down,"  said  the  old  man 
as  his  nephew  again  sprang  to  his  feet.  "  All  is 
not  plain  sailing  by  any  means !  I  wish  she  were 
elsewhere,  though  I  appeared  to  be  glad  at  her 
coming!  She  is  here,  of  course,  for  her  rights 
under  her  father's  will.  Her  sister  has  the  home 
stead;  Louise  has  cash  and  the  proceeds  of  Selden's 


EAVESDROPPING  85 

investments.  What  shall  I  say  to  her  when  she 
demands  her  patrimony,  already  due?  Shall  I  tell 
her  I  have  lost  it?  Shall  I  tell  her  that,  as  her 
guardian,  I  have  been  false  to  my  trust  —  false  to 
her  father  —  and  all  on  account  of  my  worthless 
nephew,  for  the  love  of  whom  and  whom  to  satisfy 
I  supplied  with  funds  not  my  own  that  he  might 
cancel  his  so-called  debts  of  honor?  If  she  should 
get  the  ear  of  Gage,  who  is  mighty  punctilious  in 
these  matters,  and  not  at  all  like  Hutchinson,  and 
tell  him  the  Lawyer  Dench  had  defaulted,  where 
would  I  be?  And  where  would  you  be  were  the 
facts  known?  It  would  come  out  that  you  were 
aware  of  the  defalcation,  that  you  gambled  away 
another's  money.  You  would  be  cashiered,  or, 
if  not,  placed  in  a  position  where  you  would  be 
compelled  to  resign;  and  then  you  would  be  —  a 
beggar." 

"A  beggar?" 

"Ay,  Larry,  a  beggar;  for  I  am  as  near  ruin 
as  a  man  can  be  —  and  on  your  account.  I  could 
not  give  the  girl  ten  pounds  of  the  thousand  I  owe 
her.  You  drained  me  so  low  with  your  infernal 
scheme  of  riches  —  a  scheme  that  went  wrong  — 
that  I  took  speculative  chances  to  make  good  my 
losses,  and  —  I  failed!  " 

"Failed!  You  failed?"  There  was  now  no 
truculence  in  Brussel's  voice ;  it  showed  undisguised 
consternation. 

"  Ay,  I  failed  to  be  fortunate  because  at  the 


86  THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

time  my  venture  was  hanging  in  air  his  majesty 
embargoed  the  port  of  Boston.  You  know  the 
effect  of  that.  All  business  ceased,  and  has  since 
lain  dead.  But  my  condition  is  not  known  —  not 
even  suspected.  Lawyer  Bench  is  yet  a  man  of 
integrity  and  fair  fortune." 

"I  see  —  I  see,"  was  Brussel's  slow  reply. 
"  And  this  rather  eases  my  hand.  Why  should  I 
now  marry  the  girl?  The  motive  appears  to  be 
lost." 

"  I  think  not,  my  son,"  said  the  old  man  with  a 
touch  of  irony  in  his  voice.  u  Louise  Selden,  as  a 
woman,  is  a  prize  to  be  proud  of,  and  by  marrying 
her  you  can  save  me  —  and  yourself." 

"  As  if  I  were  in  danger!  "  said  Brussel.  "  But 
how  save  you?  " 

"  Because,  as  her  husband,  her  property  is  yours, 
and  then  the  affair  is  between  you  and  me  alone. 
You  will,  of  course,  give  me  time,  and  as  soon  as 
the  port  reopens,  as  it  will  when  the  king  has 
punished  this  rebel  rabble,  all  will  turn  out  well, 
and  my  ventures  will  realize  more  than  enough  to 
recoup  my  losses.  Do  you  follow  me?  " 

"  Oh,  I  follow  you  readily  enough,"  was  the  re 
turn,  the  speaker's  tones  warming.  '  You  would 
make  a  cat's-paw  of  me  to  save  yourself!  I'll  be 
damned  if  I  marry  her  now;  and  she  would  rather 
be  cursed  than  marry  me.  I  tell  you  she  hates 
me." 


EAVESDROPPING  87 

"  But  have  you  not  a  way  with  women?  You 
used  to  boast  of  it.  You  can  convince  her." 

u  Curse  me  if  I  try,"  was  the  quick  return.  "  It 
means  to  fetter  myself." 

"  Then  perhaps  yon  gentle  Devil,  now  up-stairs, 
will  try,"  returned  Dench,  in  a  smooth,  sarcastic 
voice.  ''  The  two  must  have  been  together  for 
hours,  and  young  women  have  long  tongues.  He 
may  know  something  of  her  affairs." 

"  Let  him  know.  I  have  him  yet  to  deal  with," 
interrupted  Brussel.  "  I  won't  marry  her  — • 
that's  flat." 

"Flat,  is  it?  Is  it  so?"  returned  Dench,  an 
ugly  note  in  his  voice.  "  Forget  not  this,  my  self- 
sufficient  nephew.  You  have  driven  me  to  the 
wall,  and  now  you  compel  me  to  tell  you  that  if  you 
go  against  my  wishes  in  the  least  I  will  bring  out  a 
certain  note  you  think  was  destroyed  long  since. 
Do  you  take  your  uncle  for  a  fool,  sir?  I'll  ruin 
you,  if  you  persist  in  ruining  me." 

I  was  being  rapidly  informed,  and  a  fine  batch 
of  family  history  was  opened  to  me  in  the  last 
threat  of  the  old  man.  Nor  were  my  thoughts 
interrupted,  as  for  some  time  silence  followed 
Dench's  words.  Presently  Brussel  spoke. 

''  Well,  sir,  you  have  the  whip-hand  of  me,  and 
hold  me  by  the  throat.  I  might  have  known  you 
lied  about  having  burned  Colonel  Dalrymple's 
note." 


88  THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

"  I  have  mentioned  no  names,"  said  Dench, 
speaking  quickly. 

"  And  what  if  I  fail  with  the  girl  after  honestly 
trying  to  get  her?  "  asked  Brussel. 

;'  We  will  remove  her,"  answered  the  lawyer. 

"  My  Lord !     Would  you  kill  — " 

"  Don't  be  an  ass,  Larry.  Who  spoke  of  kill 
ing  a  woman?  You  might  knife  a  man,  he  being 
an  enemy,  but  a  woman,  no.  I  mean  we  would 
place  her  where  she  could  not  talk  —  or  where  her 
talk  would  be  harmless  to  us." 

"  Ah,  yes  —  a  prisoner  somewhere  —  until 
times  mend." 

"  Precisely;  and  they  will  mend  shortly.  Gage 
will  have  those  arch-rebels  in  limbo  and  then  the 
movement  will  fall.  The  port  will  reopen.  In 
the  meantime  you  will  ingratiate  yourself  with 
Louise,  and  I  will  feed  her  with  delays  and 
promises." 

"And  that  fellow  up-stairs?  " 

"  Possibly  he  will  be  a  little  difficult,  but  as  he 
is  a  rebel  — " 

"  He  is  more  than  that.  In  a  spirit  of  brag  he 
enlisted  under  a  false  name.  He's  a  deserter  from 
his  majesty's  forces." 

"Ay?  Is  it  so?  Then  we  have  him.  Go 
you  for  a  file  of  men  and  arrest  him;  a  search  will 
discover  the  letters,  and  then  he  can  pass  to  his 
deserts." 


EAVESDROPPING  89 

"  By  the  hot  foot  of  Lucifer!  I'll  arrest  him 
myself,"  said  Brussel. 

"  Nay,  but  it  is  too  great  a  risk,"  interposed 
Dench.  "  Suppose  Louise  has  told  him  her  his 
tory  —  and  what  she  fears;  suppose  he  should  talk 
at  his  trial  and  — " 

"  Mark  me  well,  Uncle  Dench,"  interrupted 
Brussel,  evidently  getting  to  his  feet,  "  I  agree  to 
all  you  ask  save  this.  I  will  marry  the  girl  if  I 
can,  and  compound  your  villainy  afterward,  but 
I  am  to  have  my  own  way  with  Darcy;  and  rest 
assured  that  when  I  am  done  with  him,  he  will  talk 
no  more.  Dost  comprehend?  I  am  a  king's  offi 
cer  and  have  the  right  to  kill  a  deserter.  I  have 
been  outraged,  and  by  Heaven,  I'll  be  revenged." 

I  heard  the  man  striding  up  and  down  the  floor 
as  he  spoke  excitedly.  It  was  full  time  for  me  to 
be  going,  and  as  I  reached  that  conclusion,  I  real 
ized  that  the  precious  letters  were  in  my  coat  which 
I  had  thrown  on  the  bed  up-stairs. 

Also,  it  would  not  be  feasible  to  leave  the  house 
unshod,  and  I  straightened  myself  for  the  purpose 
of  returning  to  my  room  and  obtaining  my  coat  and 
foot-gear,  when,  to  my  consternation,  for  I  had 
heard  no  indication  of  it,  the  office-door  opened 
and  Brussel,  with  the  old  man  just  behind  him, 
stood  within  three  feet  of  me. 


CHAPTER  IX 

AT    CLOSE    RANGE 

UNDER  the  circumstances  I  had  little  time 
to  think,  nor  did  I  think,  but  I  was  moved 
through  intuition  which  same  sixth  sense 
has  stood  me  in  good  stead  more  than  once  in  my 
life.  The  matter  evidently  dominating  my  brain 
at  that  moment  was  that  I  must  get  possession  of 
the  letters  —  that  without  them  I  would  be  weak. 

Brussel  had  his  drawn  sword  in  his  hand,  and 
the  reason  he  did  not  at  once  use  it  was  because  my 
presence  took  him  more  by  surprise  than  his  did 
me,  and  as  he  hung  in  the  wind  at  sight  of  me, 
and  that  for  the  space  of  perhaps  ten  seconds,  I 
acted  in  a  totally  different  way  than  I  would  have 
done  had  he  appeared  when  he  first  approached 
the  door. 

At  all  events,  instead  of  throwing  myself  on  him 
I  did  the  very  opposite,  for,  turning,  I  ran  at  full 
speed  along  the  hall  and  up  the  stairs,  gaining  my 
room  and  getting  into  my  coat,  as  if  the  latter  act 
were  to  settle  the  whole  business. 

Undoubtedly  Brussel  thought  my  flight  was  de 
termined  through  fear  of  him,  though  why  he 
should  have  thought  so  after  what  had  passed 

90 


AT  CLOSE  RANGE  91 

between  us  is  still  a  puzzle.  It  is  likely  that  he 
would  have  put  after  me  at  once,  but  it  took  time 
for  him  to  pull  his  wits  together  and  realize  that 
the  secret  between  himself  and  his  uncle  was  in  the 
hands  of  a  third  party.  At  all  events  there  must 
two  or  three  minutes  have  passed  ere  I  heard  his 
feet  on  the  stairs.  By  then  I  was  into  my  coat  and 
had  slipped  my  feet  into  my  shoes;  all  my  late 
fatigue  had  vanished,  and  I  had  about  determined 
to  go  out  of  the  window  to  the  roof  beneath  it  and 
there  make  my  escape  by  dropping  from  the  leads; 
indeed,  I  was  half-across  the  room  when  Brussel 
dashed  open  the  door. 

I  marked  the  fire  in  his  eyes  as  plainly  as  I  did 
the  sword  in  his  hand,  and  was  well  aware  that  his 
present  desperation  made  him  infinitely  more  dan 
gerous  to  me  than  he  had  been  when  he  menaced 
me  in  the  coffee-room  of  the  White  Horse. 

Behind  him  came  Bench,  panting  from  un 
wonted  exertion,  but  I  only  had  a  glance  at  him, 
for  with  his  entry  Brussel  seemed  to  divine  my 
object.  As  I  halted  he  leaped  between  me  and 
the  window. 

"  Surrender,  you  deserter!  "  he  shouted,  lifting, 
his  sword  above  his  head. 

At  that  juncture  I  might  have  turned  toward  the 
door,  knocked  down  the  old  man  who  stood  in  the 
way  and  fled  to  the  hall  below;  but  I  could  not  see 
how  I  would  be  benefited  by  the  move,  as  long 
before  I  could  unfasten  the  front  door  I  would  be 


92  THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

cut  down  from  behind,  and  I  was  ignorant  of  the 
passage  leading  to  the  rear.  My  way  appeared 
to  be  blocked  in  every  direction. 

But  I  was  in  no  mood  to  surrender  to  Brussel, 
whom  I  now  hated  as  the  devil  is  supposed  to  hate 
holy-water.  I  had  forced  issues  with  him  once 
and  might  again,  only  I  could  no  longer  use  my 
former  tactics  of  running  under  his  sword. 

Having  been  made  wise  by  experience,  he  now 
lowered  his  weapon  until  only  its  point  threatened 
me,  and,  of  necessity,  I  backed  away  from  him  to 
avoid  his  vicious  thrust,  making  my  way  slowly 
toward  the  bed.  I  was  perfectly  aware  that  I  need 
expect  no  mercy  from  this  man;  and  if  by  chance 
he  got  me  into  his  power  and  turned  me  over  to 
the  authorities,  my  case  would  be  quite  as  des 
perate.  There  would  be  three  counts  against  me : 
my  exploit  with  the  royal  judge,  my  bearing  trea 
sonable  correspondence,  and  my  being  a  technical 
deserter  from  the  British  army,  the  last  being  solely 
due  to  my  own  crass  foolishness. 

However,  I  did  not  think  my  offenses  would 
ever  come  to  trial,  and  for  reasons  I  had  over 
heard,  Brussel  expected  to  make  an  end  to  me  then 
and  there;  it  was  in  the  blackness  of  his  face,  in 
his  compressed  lips;  in  the  very  glare  of  his  eyes, 
and  I  knew  that  if  I  did  not  tamely  submit  and 
make  him  a  cold-blooded  murderer,  I  must  fight  as 
I  had  never  fought  before.  My  every  instinct 
moved  me  to  die  fighting. 


AT  CLOSE  RANGE  93 

It  is  a  well-worn  axiom  that  while  there  is  life 
there  is  hope,  and  I  was  not  yet  dead;  as  for  hope 
—  what  man  of  my  age  is  for  long  without  it? 
Therefore,  as  I  have  said,  I  backed  slowly  toward 
the  bed,  my  eyes  in  the  meantime  playing  round 
the  unfamiliar  room,  hoping  to  catch  sight  of  some 
thing  that  might  stand  me  as  a  weapon.  But  there 
was  nothing  of  the  kind  about;  the  fireplace  was 
empty  of  its  usual  furniture,  and  there  was  not  even 
a  stick  of  wood  with  which  I  could  defend  myself; 
as  for  the  chairs,  they  were  either  too  unwieldy 
or  too  distant.  I  was  certainly  at  bay. 

As  I  reached  the  bed,  followed  step  by  step  by 
the  still  thrusting,  but  now  silent  officer,  I  became 
aware  that  a  third  party  had  appeared  on  the 
scene.  It  was  Louise  Selden,  who,  roused  by  the 
noise  of  three  men  tearing  up-stairs,  had  left  her 
room. 

I  can  see  her  now,  her  fine  eyes  wide-open  in 
surprise  or  consternation,  her  beautiful  hair,  loose 
from  its  confining  wig,  streaming  over  her  shoul 
ders.  She  stood  by  the  door,  one  hand  on  her 
heart,  while  Bench  stood  in  the  opening,  his  arm 
across  it  to  bar  her  from  entering  the  room. 

I  noticed  these  things  in  a  flash  and  without  los 
ing  sight  of  my  advancing  enemy.  At  last  I 
reached  the  bed,  a  ponderous,  four-posted  affair, 
and  when  I  laid  my  hand  on  it  I  knew  I  had  at 
tained  the  limits  of  my  ability  to  retreat. 

But  not  the  limits  of  my  resources.     For  as  my 


94  THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

hand  fell  on  the  spread,  my  fingers  instinctively 
clutched  the  fluffy  stuff,  and  without  the  least  calcu 
lation,  but  in  a  spirit  of  desperation,  I  suddenly 
pulled  the  great  quilt  from  the  bed  and  swung  it 
toward  Brussel. 

It  did  not  envelop  him,  as  perhaps  I  had  hoped 
it  would,  but  the  mass  of  material  caught  the  point 
of  his  advancing  sword,  bearing  it  down  and  be 
coming  entangled  with  the  weapon.  Here  was  my 
chance,  and  I  took  immediate  advantage  of  it. 
With  a  bound  I  was  on  the  officer,  but  as  my  own 
feet  caught  in  the  cloth  I  did  not  get  an  effective 
hold  on  him,  though  my  propelled  weight  caused 
him  to  stagger  back  and  lose  his  balance,  and  in 
an  instant  we  were  struggling  on  the  floor,  both 
of  us  enmeshed  in  the  folds  of  the  spread. 

At  that  moment,  and  later,  when  we  were  claw 
ing  at  each  other  like  two  frenzied  cats,  I  did  not 
have  a  doubt  of  the  result.  It  took  me  some  time 
to  get  my  legs  free  of  the  trammeling  cloth,  but 
when  at  last  I  was  free,  I  managed  to  get  a  clutch 
on  his  throat  and  the  next  instant  I  was  astride  his 
body,  my  fingers  sinking  into  his  flesh,  but  not  be 
fore  he  had  again  let  out  a  cry  for  help,  as  he  had 
done  at  the  White  Horse.  Little  feeling  did  I 
have  for  him  as  I  marked  his  eyes  bulge  in  his 
distress,  and  his  body  writhe  under  me.  My  way 
was  now  plain.  I  would  choke  him  into  complete 
submission,  dispose  of  the  old  man  with  a  blow, 
take  a  short  leave  of  the  girl,  and  go  from  the 


AT  CLOSE  RANGE  95 

house;  but  these  plans,  like  many  another,  failed 
to  materialize,  for  as  I  rode  his  heaving  body  and 
marked  his  tongue  protrude,  I  heard  a  scream  from 
the  girl,  and  at  the  same  instant  I  received  a  sicken 
ing  blow  on  the  head. 

The  room  leaped  in  a  sea  of  whirling  flame  and 
blood,  then  all  became  pitch-black,  and  I  was 
swinging  helpless  in  endless  space. 


CHAPTER  X 

IMMURED 

WHEN  finally  I  came  to  my  senses  I  was 
far  too  bewildered  to  know  more  than 
that  I  was  not  dead  and  hurtling 
through  space,  but  my  surroundings  did  not  en 
lighten  me  as  to  where  I  was. 

Deep  darkness  still  encumbered  me,  for,  though 
I  opened  my  eyes,  not  a  ray  of  light  greeted  them; 
and  I  was  beset  with  a  general  and  profound  feel 
ing  of  discomfort.  Then  it  suddenly  came  to  me 
that  I  was  blind,  and  the  shock  of  horror  pulled  my 
poor  wits  together  as  nothing  else  would  have 
done. 

I  lay  perfectly  still  while  my  brain  steadied,  and 
from  the  dead  silence  about  me  I  concluded  that  I 
was  alone. 

I  say  I  lay  still,  but  it  was  because  I  was  unable 
to  move;  and  yet  I  felt  nothing  of  the  compression 
of  bonds.  I  did  not  think  of  bonds.  I  only  kne\V 
that  I  was  blind  and  miserable,  but  did  not  attempt 
to  fathom  the  cause.  I  now  know  that  I  was 
bound  only  by  physical  exhaustion. 

Like  an  owl  I  lay  with  my  eyes  wide  open,  my 
brain  dancing  from  terror ;  but  I  gave  my  thoughts 

96 


IMMURED  97 

no  voice.  I  could  not;  I  was  dumb  as  well  as 
motionless. 

I  presume  that  nature  at  length  asserted  itself 
and  I  slept,  for  when  I  again  opened  my  eyes  it 
was  to  behold  a  square  of  dim  light  above  my  head, 
and  it  came  to  me  with  a  rush  that  I  was  looking 
at  a  narrow  window. 

Heaven  knows  my  joy  at  discovering  I  was  not 
blind;  and  that,  with  the  sleep  I  had,  did  much  to 
pull  me  together.  And  now  I  could  move,  though 
the  act  of  stretching  out  my  hand  gave  me  a  sense 
of  pain.  And  well  it  might. 

I  found  I  was  lying  on  bare  stone,  and  without 
more  covering  that  the  clothes  I  had  on.  I  was 
stiffened  by  cold  and  dampness. 

Then  something  of  the  past  asserted  itself,  and 
I  began  to  put  two  and  two  together  until  at  last 
much  of  the  matter  bewildering  me  began  to  clear. 
I  rolled  over,  every  bone  and  muscle  in  my  body 
protesting  at  the  movement;  but  finally  I  managed 
to  get  to  my  knees  and  look  about  me. 

That  I  was  in  a  prison-cell  was  my  first  thought; 
the  floor  and  walls  were  of  stone,  the  roof  of 
rough-hewn  timbers,  while  the  feeble  light  that 
brought  out  the  general  features  of  the  place  came 
through  a  very  small  window  close  to  the  rafters. 

The  window  was  not  barred,  which  I  thought 
strange;  but  it  was  too  small  to  pass  such  a  body 
as  mine.  However,  it  took  me  but  a  few  minutes 
to  determine  I  was  in  no  regular  prison,  but  in  an 


98  THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

underground  apartment  which  was,  or  had  been,  a 
storeroom;  for  against  the  wall  were  two  empty 
barrels,  while  a  row  of  hooks  along  a  rafter,  and 
a  hanging  shelf,  now  empty,  gave  an  inkling  of  the 
nature  of  the  place.  I  was  undoubtedly  in  a  cellar, 
but  where  and  under  what  conditions  were  matters 
to  be  guessed  at. 

My  reasonable  supposition  was  that  after  I  had 
become  unconscious  I  had  been  transferred  from 
Dench's  house  and  was  in  the  hands  of  the  authori 
ties,  who,  owing  to  the  ticklish  nature  of  the  times 
and  the  peculiar  character  of  my  offense,  were 
keeping  me  apart  from  common  criminals. 

Doubtless,  thought  I,  I  am  in  no  less  a  place 
than  the  cellar  of  Provence  House,  where  in  good 
time  I  will  be  visited  by  Gage  or  his  inquisitor. 

But  I  was  too  weak  to  more  than  surmise.  My 
head  pained  me,  and,  bringing  my  hand  to  it,  I 
discovered  that  my  hair  was  matted;  and  then 
there  came  the  full  recollection  of  how  I  had 
fought  and  fallen. 

I  now  saw  that  I  was  bloody  from  head  to  foot, 
but  the  flow  had  ceased  and  the  blood  was  dry. 
How  long  could  I  have  lain  in  this  cell?  And  why 
had  I  been  thrown  there  without  even  a  truss  of 
straw  under  me?  I  could  not  tell,  but  by  the 
gnawing  in  my  stomach  I  thought  it  must  have  been 
many  hours.  I  was  becoming  ravenously  hungry 
and  correspondingly  thirsty. 

I  crawled  under  the  window,  raised  myself  by 


IMMURED  99 

means  of  the  rough  stones,  and  attempted  to  call 
through  the  opening  some  two  feet  above  my  head; 
but  my  voice  was  only  a  feeble  croak.  Then  on 
my  hands  and  knees  I  explored  the  cell  inch  by 
inch. 

The  window,  set  in  a  pit  a  foot  or  two  below  the 
surface  of  the  ground,  showed  but  a  strip  of  sky, 
and  by  the  gradual  brightening  of  the  blue  I 
guessed  I  had  been  a  prisoner  all  that  night  and 
most  of  the  previous  day. 

And  that  there  was  no  means  of  escape  from  this 
hole  I  saw  at  once.  The  door  was  of  heavy  oak, 
fastened  securely,  and  without  lock,  latch,  or  knob 
on  my  side  of  it.  A  shallow  transom  was  above 
it,  but  the  opening  was  only  a  narrow  slit  intended 
for  ventilation,  and  would  not  have  permitted  the 
passage  of  a  small  dog. 

With  infinite  pains  I  rolled  an  empty  barrel  to 
the  door,  climbed  to  its  top,  and  peered  through  the 
transom.  Only  the  sight  of  deep  darkness  beyond 
rewarded  me  for  my  exertion.  In  a  frenzy  I  beat 
the  door  with  fists  and  feet,  calling  as  loud  as  my 
strength  would  permit;  but  this  only  served  to 
exhaust  me,  and  I  fell  to  the  floor  in  a  state  of  com 
plete  collapse. 

I  do  not  know  how  long  I  crouched  there  with 
my  eyes  on  the  window ;  all  day,  probably,  for  the 
light  faded  until  it  was  pitch-dark,  and  then  I  knew 
that  night  had  fallen  again.  That  night  was  filled 
with  fevered  visions,  and  betwixt  hunger,  thirst, 


ioo          THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

and  the  pain  in  my  head  I  felt  as  ready  to  die  as 
ever  did  a  man  of  twenty-six. 

I  could  no  longer  think  clearly,  and  the  oppres 
sive  silence  became  like  a  veritable  menace;  but  I 
recollect  wondering,  if  I  was  thrown  into  this 
hole  to  die,  why  was  it  that  some  one  did  not  come 
and  investigate  my  case?  As  a  dead  man  I  would 
not  be  long  tolerated  in  any  building,  and  I  surely 
must  have  been  close  to  death  when  I  was  cast  into 
this  dungeon. 

It  was  all  a  puzzle. 

I  slept  after  a  time,  and  woke  clear-headed  and 
stronger,  though  still  in  a  pitiable  state  and  still 
crouched  in  the  spot  where  I  had  fallen.  I  was 
cold,  hungry,  and  wildly  thirsty,  but  too  listless  to 
move.  The  day  had  come  again,  and  as  my  eyes 
roved  aimlessly  they  caught  sight  of  an  object  close 
to  me,  and  it  had  not  been  there  before.  I  drew 
it  toward  me.  It  was  a  package  nearly  a  foot 
long,  wrapped  in  what  might  have  been  an  old 
towel,  and  it  was  tied  with  a  bit  of  string. 

My  curiosity  was  at  once  roused,  but  it  was  with 
difficulty  that  I  finally  managed  to  break  the  cord, 
first  discovering  that  my  pockets  had  been  rifled, 
as  when  I  felt  for  my  knife  I  found  it  gone,  also, 
that  my  money-belt  had  been  stripped  from  me. 
My  letters !  They,  too,  were  missing,  though  in 
my  lowered  state  the  fact  hardly  troubled  me; 
indeed,  the  letters  were  forgotten  in  my  interest  in 
the  bundle.  Slowly  I  unrolled  the  cloth,  hoping 


IMMURED  101 

for  nothing,  expecting  nothing;  but  when  I  opened 
the  last  fold  my  eyes  suddenly  blazed. 

There  was  bread  —  a  whole  loaf  —  and  a 
leather  bottle,  which  from  its  dampness  I  knew 
contained  water.  As  I  clutched  at  them  something 
white  fell  to  the  floor,  but  little  I  heeded  it.  Like 
a  panther  athirst  for  blood,  I  tore  the  cork  from 
the  mouth  of  the  flask  and  drank  without  waiting 
to  taste  the  bottle's  contents;  it  might  have  been 
poison  sent  to  hurry  me  off  instead  of  being  pure 
water,  but  pure  water  it  was. 

The  edge  taken  from  my  thirst,  I  set  my  teeth 
in  the  loaf  and  tore  it  apart.  I  must  have  made  a 
pitiful  sight  as,  bloody  and  disheveled,  I  crammed 
my  mouth  full  of  bread  while  tears  of  weakness 
and  thankfulness  were  coursing  down  my  cheeks. 
I  do  not  apologize  for  my  unheroic  aspect  and  my 
fiendish  appetite  for  food  and  drink.  I  was  then 
but  an  animal,  deprived  of  its  rights,  and  my 
spiritual  sense  was  dulled. 

A  few  moments  later,  having  disposed  of  the 
last  drop  and  crumb,  and  with  something  akin  to 
the  feeling  of  a  normal  man,  though  not  a  high- 
tempered  one,  I  wondered  who  had  cast  the  food 
to  me,  for  it  had  undoubtedly  been  pushed  through 
the  transom.  And  then  my  eyes  fell  on  the  neg 
lected  white  square  which  had  dropped  from  the 
bundle,  and  reaching  for  it  with  a  new  interest  in 
life,  I  saw  it  was  a  paper  —  ay,  a  note.  It  con 
tained  but  few  words. 


102          THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

If  you  are  alive,  throw  cloth  and  bottle  back  to  the  cel 
lar  passage.  Make  no  outcry. 

That  was  all.  There  was  nothing  said  as  to 
who  was  standing  my  friend;  nothing  of  the  con 
dition  of  things  outside.  With  my  brain  steadied 
by  food  and  drink,  albeit  they  were  but  bread  and 
water,  I  began  to  reason  connectedly  concerning 
my  plight. 

So  I  was,  as  I  had  thought,  in  a  cellar  compart 
ment.  But  where  ?  The  question  appeared  to  be 
of  easy  solution  now.  I  had  but  one  friend  who 
could  have  known  of  the  treacherous  blow  which 
had  struck  me  down,  and  she,  Louise  Selden.  She 
would  hardly  be  in  any  house  but  Bench's,  seeing 
it  was  his  interest  to  keep  her  there  for  a  time,  and, 
therefore,  in  Dench's  cellar  I  must  be,  and  the  girl, 
guessing  at  my  state,  had  found  some  way  to 
smuggle  food  to  me.  Of  that  I  was  certain  and 
equally  certain  that  if  I  gave  the  required  signal 
it  would  not  go  unnoticed  by  her  or  her  con 
federate. 

Now  clearly  enough  I  remembered  that  she  was 
marked  for  ruin,  and  within  me  there  surged  a 
desire  to  warn  her  against  the  plot.  But  I  was  in 
no  position  to  do  it,  for  my  sense  told  me  to  im 
plicitly  obey  instructions,  and,  moreover,  I  had  no 
means  of  communicating  with  her. 

Nor  could  I  even  write  an  answer  to  her  note, 
if  indeed  it  was  from  her.  However,  I  lost  no 
time  in  throwing  bottle  and  towel  through  the 


IMMURED  103 

transom;  their  presence  in  the  passage  would  mean 
nothing  to  one  not  in  the  secret. 

The  day  passed  in  monotonous  silence.  If  any 
one  came  near  me,  and  events  proved  that  there 
did,  I  was  not  aware  of  it,  though  I  kept  my  ears 
trained  for  the  slightest  noise  in  the  passage. 
Ay,  I  did  more.  I  armed  myself  with  a  barrel 
stave,  hoping  and  fearing  that  Brussel  or  his  uncle 
would  come  to  learn  of  my  state.  But  neither  dis 
turbed  me.  As  evening  came  on  apace  my  hope 
fell  with  the  return  of  keen  hunger.  The  light 
waned  until  the  outline  of  the  window  was  lost, 
and  just  as  I  felt  hopeless  I  heard  a  thud  on  the 
floor  of  my  cell  and  then  knew  I  had  not  been  for 
gotten. 

This  time  the  package  contained  meat  as  well  as 
bread  and  water,  but  the  note  I  felt  for  and  found 
could  not  be  read  until  morning;  so  after  eating  I 
curled  myself  up  on  the  cursed  stone  floor  and 
slept.  And  possibly  slept  with  one  eye  open,  for 
I  was  up  and  crowding  close  to  the  window  at  the 
crack  of  dawn.  As  soon  as  it  was  light  enough  I 
read  the  note : 

Heaven  be  praised  for  your  being  alive.  If  you  are 
sick  and  helpless,  throw  the  towel  as  before,  but  if  you 
can  work  for  escape,  tear  it  in  two  before  throwing  it  out. 

I  cannot  liberate  you,  as  D has  the  key  and  sits  so  that 

no  one  can  go  to  the  cellar  unseen  during  the  day. 

The  city  is  in  a  state  of  siege.  The  royal  forces  were 
nearly  ruined  on  their  retreat  from  Concord.  No  one 
can  leave  or  enter  Boston,  and  the  excitement  is  awful. 


104         THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

B has  not  been  here  since  the  disaster  to  Gage.     In 

the  growing  confusion  there  may  be  a  chance  for  you. 
More  to-night.  L. 

With  this  my  pulse  began  to  bound,  and  strange 
to  say  it  was  the  information  anent  the  king's 
forces  which  most  appealed  to  me.  There  had 
plainly  been  a  clash  between  the  troops  and  the 
people  in  which  the  latter  had  won.  The  first 
blow  had  been  struck,  and  the  war,  which  had  long 
been  anticipated,  was  now  on.  Boston  was  be 
leaguered!  It  was  wonderful,  and  here  I  was 
mewed  up  like  a  monk  in  a  cell,  without  the  ability 
to  take  a  hand  in  the  glorious  stir. 

But  by  the  grace  of  Heaven  and  the  faithfulness 
of  Louise  Selden,  I  soon  would  have  my  freedom; 
for  of  course,  it  was  my  late  companion  who  was 
standing  by  me.  The  poor  weakling,  for  whom  I 
had  held  little  respect  while  I  thought  her  a  boy, 
was  now  supporting  me  and  holding  me  from  the 
great  abyss;  and  she  evidently  had  confidence  in 
her  own  wit.  Mentally  I  groveled  before  her.  I 
did  not  then  know  that  a  woman's  weakness  is  her 
strength,  but  I  knew  I  owed  my  life  to  Louise  Sel 
den,  and  then  and  there  I  swore  I  would  recipro 
cate  her  faithfulness  to  me.  If  only  I  were  free ! 

I  tore  the  towel  in  two  with  a  vigor  that  told  of 
returning  spirits,  and  at  once  cast  the  pieces 
through  the  transom.  Would  I  work  for  escape? 
Ay,  that  I  would.  Only  show  me  the  chance ! 

How  that  day  dragged  may  be  guessed,  and 


IMMURED  105 

with  what  a  zest  I  seized  upon  the  bundle  when  it 
came  to  me  that  night  may  easily  be  imagined. 
But  I  could  get  no  clew  as  to  who  was  my  direct 
benefactor.  I  was  certain  it  was  not  Louise,  for 
the  shuffling  steps  that  went  down  the  stone  cor 
ridor  were  not  those  of  a  young  person,  nor  of 
one  who  was  in  a  great  hurry. 

The  bundle  I  unrolled  was  very  much  heavier 
than  any  I  had  received,  and  that  not  altogether 
from  the  generous  supply  of  provisions.  For  be 
sides  food,  it  contained  an  old  cold-chisel,  a  couple 
of  candles  and  a  flint  and  steel. 

The  feel  of  the  candles  told  me  their  nature,  and 
after  a  long  struggle  with  the  flint  and  steel,  I 
managed  to  get  one  lighted  and  turned  to  the  letter 
accompanying  the  package.  It  stimulated  me  as 
nothing  else  would  have  done  —  nothing  save 
actual  liberty. 

My  dear  friend: 

This,  like  the  others,  will  be  conveyed  to  you  by  Letty, 
the  negress  servant  of  the  house,  and  without  whom  I 
fear  we  would  both  be  undone.  You  will  find  the  means 
of  working  for  your  escape,  and  I  see  no  other  way  than 
to  remove  the  stones  of  the  foundation. 

There  is  an  uncovered  ditch  running  from  the  well  to 
the  house,  which  ends  four  feet  under  the  surface  of  the 
ground  and  against  the  foundation  or  the  wall  of  the 
room  you  are  in.  That  is  a  corner  compartment,  and  the 
ditch  strikes  it  exactly  six  feet  from  the  angle,  if  Letty 
has  measured  right,  and  four  feet  below  the  top  course  of 
stone. 

If  you  can  remove  a  portion  of  the  wall  at  that  point, 


io6         THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

you  can  easily  break  a  way  out,  as  the  workmen  have 
loosened  the  outside  facing.  They  were  about  to  repair 
a  break  in  the  pipe  that  runs  from  the  well  to  the  kitchen 
above  you,  but  the  general  confusion  has  put  a  stop  to 
the  work. 

D appears  troubled,  and  told  me,  who  am  acting  a 

part,  that  you  are  yet  alive  and  being  taken  care  of;  that 
you  are  an  escaped  criminal,  and  on  the  morning  of  our 
arrival  had  been  discovered  robbing  the  house.  He  tells 
me  you  are  being  held  by  him  pending  the  settlement  of 
the  confusion.  I  know  this  to  be  a  lie.  He  is  not  harsh 
to  me;  quite  the  contrary. 

Political  situation  more  acute.  There  have  been  sev 
eral  skirmishes  round  Boston  Neck,  but  nothing  decisive. 
No  one  can  move  without  a  pass  from  Gage.  I  should 
return  home,  but  cannot  go  until  I  see  you  safe.  Have 
not  seen  B for  several  days. 

When  you  have  made  an  opening  large  enough  to  pass 
through,  tie  a  knot  in  the  cloth  you  throw  out  and  await 
instructions.  L. 

Though  I  was  at  that  time  far  from  being  in  love 
with  the  writer,  I  pressed  this  missive  to  my  lips; 
it  was  my  only  means  of  thanking  her.  And  so 
she  was  acting  a  part !  Why,  unless  she  had  dis 
covered  the  character  of  the  man  from  whom  she 
had  expected  protection?  That  might  be  as  it 
happened;  I  would  soon  enlighten  her;  in  the 
meantime  I  had  work  to  do. 

With  candle  in  one  hand  and  chisel  in  the  other, 
I  went  to  the  point  the  note  indicated,  and  then  saw 
what  I  had  not  before  noticed.  I  would  not  be 
obliged  to  calculate  where  to  begin  my  labor,  for 
there,  leading  from  above  and  turning  into  the 


IMMURED  107, 

foundation  below  the  frost-line  was  the  pipe  itself, 
so  in  the  shadow,  so  rusty  and  cobweb-covered  that 
I  had  not  marked  it. 

I  remembered  having  seen  the  ditch  from  the 
window  of  my  room;  I  remembered  having  seen 
the  big  negress  at  the  well,  but  never  imagined  that 
either  would  ever  serve  me.  Here,  then,  was  the 
point  to  begin  work,  and  that  work  was  to  remove 
the  mortar-set  foundation-stones  one  by  one.  It 
bade  fair  to  be  an  endless  job  —  a  heart-rending 
job  —  but  it  was  with  liberty  for  its  object.  I  set 
down  the  candle  and  went  feverishly  at  the  busi 
ness. 

As  the  blows  of  a  hammer,  had  I  possessed  one, 
would  have  betrayed  me,  I  was  obliged  to  pick  and 
scratch  at  the  mortar,  removing  it  bit  by  bit.  I 
attacked  the  smallest  stone  first,  one  the  size  of  my 
hand,  a  mere  filling  stone,  but  it  was  midnight 
before  I  had  it  out.  Then  I  slept. 

The  next  day  I  worked  desperately,  and  at  night 
received  my  usual  supply  of  food,  but  no  note.  By 
then  I  had  removed  two  more  stones,  one  a  large 
one.  Day  and  night  alternated,  but  with  scant  rest 
for  me.  As  I  progressed,  the  work  became  easier, 
and  on  the  fifth  day  I  rested,  for  early  that  morn-11 
ing  I  discovered  that  a  push  would  send  down  the 
last  few  stones,  making  an  opening  large  enough 
to  crawl  through. 

And  each  night  I  received  my  food,  though  no 
word  came  with  it.  When  at  length  all  was  ready 


:io8          THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

I  knotted  the  cloth  in  which  my  food  always  came, 
and  threw  it  through  the  transom. 

That  day  seemed  a  year  long;  I  thought  the 
night  would  never  come.  And  when  at  last  it  did 
come  there  came  that  which  I  had  long  looked  for. 
It  must  have  been  near  nine  o'clock  when  I  heard 
the  bundle  fall,  and  I  lighted  the  remains  of  the 
second  candle,  for  I  had  saved  it  by  working  much 
in  the  dark,  and  found  a  note  which  I  seized  upon 
as  more  than  food  and  drink.  As  I  read  it,  it 
became  evident  that  I  had  completed  my  work 
none  too  soon. 

I  have  been  impatiently  awaiting  your  signal.  It 
comes  in  the  nick  of  time.  Much  has  happened,  but  can 
not  go  into  detail.  Know  something  of  the  perfidy  of 

B and  D and  the  cause  of  their  enmity  toward 

you.  I  have  your  letters  to  Mr.  A sewn  in  my  cloth 
ing  and  will  give  them  to  you  at  first  opportunity. 

I  must  leave  this  house,  and  at  once.  Have  made  ar 
rangements  to  escape,  and  hope  to  take  you  with  me. 
When  you  have  read  this,  make  your  way  to  the  ditch 
and  thence  to  the  next  street  in  the  rear,  and  await  my 
coming  with  Letty. 

I  can  no  longer  disguise  myself,  yet  I  think  you  will 
know  me.  Follow,  without  coming  too  near,  until  I 
stop;  then  join  me.  If  you  are  halted  and  questioned,  as 
you  may  be,  the  city  being  under  martial  law,  use  your 
wits,  as  I  see  no  way  to  help  you.  If  by  chance  we  can 
not  meet,  accept  my  thanks  for  what  you  have  done  for 
me,  and  may  we  meet  in  happier  days. 

In  an  hour  from  now  I  shall  start,  as  D is  to  go 

out  early. 

May  Heaven  protect  us  both.  L. 


TWIXT   DEVIL  AND   DEEP 


SHE  to  thank  me  for  what  I  had  done  for  her ! 
It  sounded  almost  like  irony,  though  I 
knew  then,  as  well  as  later,  that  she  was  not 
given  to  flippancy.  My  hands  fairly  shook  as  I 
read  this  letter.  What  had  happened  to  distress 
her?  Yet  I  could  easily  imagine. 

Brussel  had  been  persecuting  her,  and  in  all 
probability  Bench  had  unfurled  his  flag  and  now 
sailed  under  his  true  colors  as  a  villain.  I  would 
soon  know  all,  for  I  was  about  to  be  free. 

The  impending  movement  so  tested  my  weak 
ened  nerves  that  for  a  time  I  was  incapable  of 
rapid  action,  but  when  I  had  eaten  and  the  shock 
of  the  letter  had  passed  I  was  a  new  man  and  ready 
for  whatever  offered.  Hurriedly  I  picked  out  the 
stones  I  had  put  back  into  their  places,  and  in  less 
than  half  an  hour  from  the  time  I  had  read  the 
letter  I  was  pushing  against  the  frail  obstruction 
that  yet  barred  me  from  freedom. 

The  wall  went  down  with  a  clatter  as  the  stones 
fell  into  the  ditch,  and  I  feared  the  noise  would 
betray  me,  though  I  did  not  wait  for  an  alarm. 
Squeezing  my  body  through  the  opening,  I  found 

109 


no         THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

myself  under  the  stars.  It  was  a  mild  night,  al 
most  windless,  and  the  silence  was  profound.  It 
was  hard  to  realize  that  I  was  in  a  storm-center  of 
passion  and  hate. 

For  a  moment  I  crouched  without  moving, 
clutching  a  stone  in  either  hand  with  the  full  inten 
tion  of  becoming  aggressive  if  discovered.  But  as 
there  was  no  indication  that  I  had  been  either  heard 
or  seen,  I  crawled  from  the  ditch,  and,  bent  like  an 
Indian,  went  silently  and  swiftly  over  the  ground 
to  where  the  back  fence  loomed  through  the  dark 
ness.  I  felt  along  the  boards  until  I  came  to  the 
gate.  It  was  unlocked,  and  I  was  about  to  pass 
through  when  I  thought  it  safer  to  scale  the  fence 
some  distance  away. 

An  eight-foot  fence  was  nothing  to  a  man  of  my 
activity,  and  though  I  was  yet  far  below  par  physi 
cally  I  had  no  trouble  in  scaling  it  and  dropping 
noiselessly  to  the  grass  on  its  farther  side. 

From  there  I  slid  like  a  shadow  from  tree  to 
tree  until  I  came  to  the  edge  of  the  road.  This  I 
crossed,  and  hid  in  the  bushes  on  the  other  side. 
There  were  a  number  of  houses  in  sight,  the  resi 
dences  of  the  better  class,  but  not  in  one  did  I  see 
a  light.  I  had  hardly  settled  myself,  certain  that 
I  had  not  been  seen,  when  I  heard  the  hour  strike. 
It  was  ten  o'clock.  The  street  I  was  on  was 
deserted  of  foot  passers,  but  this  was  not  remark 
able,  considering  the  hour  and  the  rule  of  military 
law.  But  presently  I  heard  footsteps  coming 


"TWIXT  DEVIL  AND  DEEP"     in 

along  the  pavement  —  leisurely  footsteps  —  and 
as  I  crouched  behind  the  lilac-bush  I  used  as  a 
concealment,  I  saw  a  soldier  with  shouldered 
musket. 

He  was  part  of  the  patrol,  I  thought,  and  I  was 
right;  no  soldier  off  duty  would  be  lounging  about 
with  a  musket.  But  he  put  a  period  to  my  hopes 
of  following  Louise,  who  was  now  due  at  any 
minute,  for  instead  of  proceeding  on  his  way,  the 
scarlet-coated  man  halted  directly  in  front  of  the 
spot  where  I  was  hidden,  and  dropping  the  stock 
of  his  musket  to  the  ground,  pulled  out  a  plug  of 
tobacco  and  gnawed  on  it. 

Here  was  a  predicament  for  me,  and  it  might 
prove  one  to  the  girl,  as  doubtless  she  would  be 
stopped  and  be  obliged  to  explain  why  she  was  on 
the  street  after  dark  without  a  pass.  I  quickly 
made  up  my  mind  to  brain  the  sentry  with  the  stone 
I  still  held  rather  than  be  caught,  but  it  hardly 
came  to  that,  for,  as  the  soldier  was  pocketing  his 
plug,  he  evidently  heard  some  one  coming. 
Quickly  shouldering  his  musket,  he  stepped  for 
ward  a  pace,  came  to  a  stop,  and  brought  his  piece 
down  to  charge  as  he  challenged : 

"  Halt !     Who  are  you  and  where  your  pass  ?  " 

And  then  I  heard  a  voice  that  made  me  crouch 
lower. 

"  My  name  is  Dench,"  said  the  newcomer.  "  I 
am  a  lawyer.  That  is  my  house  yonder;  I  am 
going  in  at  the  back  way." 


H2,         THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

"  You'll  go  in  no  way  save  you  show  your  right 
to  be  here,"  was  the  soldier's  answer.  "  Where's 
your  pass?  " 

"  Right  here  —  right  here,"  said  the  lawyer 
nervously  as  he  fumbled  through  his  pockets,  but 
he  failed  to  bring  out  the  required  paper.  "  I  had 
it,  sentry.  I'll  swear  it  is  all  right.  I'm  Lawyer 
Dench,  Squire  Thaddeus  Dench,  and  — " 

"  I  don't  care  who  you  are,"  was  the  soldier's 
return.  "  I  want  the  bit  o'  paper  or  else  you  go 
with  me  to  the  provost." 

"  But  I  tell  you  — " 

"  You  need  tell  me  nothing,  sir.  I  have  my 
orders.  Have  you  a  pass?  " 

"  I  thought  I  had  it.  I  procured  it  this  morning 
from  the  city  major." 

'  That  may  or  may  not  be,  but  ye  are  a  poor 
zany  to  be  movin'  around  without  it !  In  short,  ye 
have  no  pass  to  show!  Right  about  face,  sir,  and 
march.  If  you  play  any  tricks  with  me  you'll  get 
badly  pricked.  Off  with  you." 

'  You'll  pay  for  this  outrage ! "  sputtered 
Dench.  "  I  was  given  a  pass  for  myself  and 
servant.  And  I  am  in  a  desperate  hurry.  There 
is  a  man  dying  at  my  house,  and  — " 

"  No  more  palaver  about  it,  old  man,"  was  the 
crisp  return.  "  March  on  or  I'll  put  the  spur 
into  ye." 

There  was  nothing  compromising  about  the  tone 
of  the  soldier,  and  Dench,  seeing  protests  were  use- 


"TWIXT  DEVIL  AND  DEEP"     113 

less,  turned,  and  went  the  way  he  came,  the  other, 
with  his  bayonet  between  the  lawyer's  shoulders, 
pressing  him  onward. 

And  thus,  by  a  streak  of  vivid  luck,  was  the  way 
cleared  of  both  sentry  and  an  enemy.  And  hardly 
had  soldier  and  prisoner  gone  fairly  from  sight, 
when  I  saw  Louise.  That  the  great  figure  by  her 
side  was  Letty  I  had  no  doubt. 

They  came  through  the  gate,  reached  the  road, 
and  after  a  moment  of  hesitation,  took  up  their 
course  southward.  Had  they  been  five  minutes 
earlier,  the  sentry  must  have  seen  them.  I  was 
not  then  aware  that  so  far  as  the  sentry  was  con 
cerned  the  girl  cared  nothing,  her  wit  having  pro 
vided  for  him. 

I  let  the  figures  get  fifty  feet  ahead  of  me  before 
I  followed;  nor  did  I  have  to  follow  far  before 
they  stopped  and  waited.  Her  plan  had  not 
failed.  In  a  moment  I  was  at  the  girl's  side,  pour 
ing  out  my  thanks  to  her.  It  was  the  first  time  I 
had  seen  her  in  anything  but  man's  attire,  and  in 
her  present  appearance  I  could  by  no  means  realize 
that  here  was  the  youth  whom  I  had  treated  almost 
.  with  contempt;  that  I  had  rescued  one  who  had 
^more  than  requited  the  slight  service  by  saving  my 
life. 

Even  in  the  gloom  of  the  night  I  could  make  out 
the  grace  of  her  figure,  and  even  then,  too,  I  was 
alive  to  its  charm  —  to  the  very  charm  of  her 
presence,  a  thing  I  once  cared  nothing  about.  At 


n4         THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

this  time  she  was  far  less  excited  than  was  the 
black,  who  appeared  to  be  on  pins  and  needles  — 
far  less  excited  than  was  I,  and  she  greeted  me 
with  a  low  word  and  a  quiet  hand-shake.  I  was 
glad  it  was  too  dark  for  her  to  take  note  of  my 
appearance. 

u  I  hardly  think  I  have  done  you  a  favor  by  at 
taching  myself  to  you  at  this  time,"  she  said. 
"  But  we  may  both  be  safer  together  than  apart. 
As  you  have  come,  Letty  will  go  no  further,  as  my 
pass  provides  for  only  two.  You  are  to  be  my 
servant,  and  —  hark!  " 

There  was  hardly  need  of  the  exclamation. 
Clear  from  the  west  came  the  rattle  of  musketry, 
but  the  nature  of  the  sound  showed  the  firing  was 
at  some  distance  beyond  the  Neck. 

The  rattling  fusillade  was  followed  by  the  boom 
of  a  single  cannon. 

"  It  is  an  attack!  "  I  exclaimed. 

"  The  better  for  us,  as  it  will  draw  attention 
from  the  water-front.  We  are  going  there  if  we 
can,  and  I  think  there  will  be  little  danger.  Letty 
has  made  arrangements.  She  has  made  our  escape 
possible,  having  fixed  matters  with  her  brother, 
who  will  be  waiting  for  us.  It  would  have  been 
a  desperate  undertaking  for  us  only  that  at  the  last 
moment  I  stole  Squire  Bench's  pass.  It  is  he  who 
may  have  trouble." 

"  Ay,"  I  returned.  "  He  has  struck  it  on  his 
own  threshold."  And  then  I  told  her  what  I  had 


"TWIXT  DEVIL  AND  DEEP"     115 

seen  and  heard.  "  And  doubtless  I  was  the  dying 
man  he  referred  to,"  I  concluded. 

"  I  know  not,"  she  said,  "  but  I  have  an  awful 
story  to  tell  you  as  soon  as  I  have  the  opportunity. 
Do  you  wish  your  letters  now?  They  are  sewn 
in  my  skirt,  but  — " 

"  Nay,  they  are  safer  where  they  are.  Let  us 
get  on,  and  do  not  be  shocked  when  a  light  shows 
my  appearance.  I  will  follow  behind,  as  a  servant 
should." 

Our  leave-taking  from  Letty  was  short  on  my 
part,  though  I  was  in  no  way  lacking  in  apprecia 
tion  for  what  she  had  done;  on  Louise's  it  was 
fervid.  She  kissed  the  black  woman,  then  tore 
herself  away.  The  next  moment  the  girl  and  I 
were  alone  on  the  street. 

As  we  went  along,  she  explained  how  she  had 
gone  from  her  room  on  that  disastrous  morning 
in  time  to  see  Brussel  and  Dench  enter  mine,  and 
the  drawn  sword  of  the  former  had  frightened  her. 
She  had  witnessed  the  scuffle  between  the  officer 
and  myself,  and  just  as  I  was  conquering  him,  had 
seen  Dench  strike  me  down  from  behind,  using  a 
brass  candlestick  he  had  seized  from  the  mantel. 

The  old  man's  explanation  for  this  act  of  vio 
lence  had  been  too  improbable  for  her  to  believe, 
though  she  knew  next  to  nothing  about  me;  and 
when  the  two  men  carried  me  down-stairs,  I  look 
ing  like  one  dead,  I  was  lost  to  her  until  on  ques 
tioning  Letty  she  learned  of  my  whereabouts. 


n6         THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

Neither  woman  knew  whether  I  was  alive  or 
dead,  and  it  was  Letty  who  made  a  guess  at  my 
condition,  and  took  the  risk  of  feeding  me  after 
finding  out.  It  was  she,  too,  who  had  planned  our 
escape,  and  later  made  it  possible.  Well  might 
the  girl  have  kissed  her,  and  yet  I  knew  that  it 
was  her  own  winning  personality  that  had  captured 
the  black.  I  expected  to  hear  something  regard 
ing  her  own  affairs,  when  we  were  stopped  by  a 
guard  who  demanded  a  pass. 

I  remained  in  the  background,  while  Louise  at 
once  produced  the  paper  with  a  fine  air  of  im 
patience  at  having  her  progress  interrupted.  The 
man  read  the  paper  aloud: 

"Permit  Miss  Dench  and  servant  to  pass  through  the 
streets  of  the  city  between  the  hours  of  sunset  and  sunrise" 

I  do  not  know  who  it  was  signed  by,  but  the  sol 
dier  folded  up  and  returned  it  with  a  bow  and  a 
salute,  which  was  lucky  for  him,  as  had  he  caviled 
at  it,  I  would  have  felled  him  with  the  stone  I  still 
held  to  as  a  weapon,  though  I  think  my  fist  would 
have  been  enough. 

Now  whether  the  firing  in  the  distance  had  any 
thing  to  do  with  the  matter,  or  whether  it  had  not, 
I  cannot  say,  but  that  was  the  only  time  we  were 
stopped.  Louise  no  longer  talked,  hurrying  along, 
but  at  last  she  halted  and  turned  to  me.  "  I  fear 
I  have  lost  my  way,"  she  said.  "  Where  is 


"TWIXT  DEVIL  AND  DEEP"     117 

Griffith's  Wharf  —  where  the  tea  was  thrown  into 
the  water?  " 

"  Down  the  next  street,"  I  whispered. 

She  hurried  on  faster  than  ever,  and  presently 
we  stepped  on  the  deserted  and  decaying  structure 
that  has  become  historical.  On  the  wharf  itself 
there  was  not  a  soul  in  sight.  To  the  left,  out  in 
the  bay,  I  could  see  the  riding  lights  of  the  British 
fleet,  and  even  make  out  the  huge  forms  of  two  of 
the  nearest  ships.  But  they  did  not  concern  me. 
I  was  not  so  near  absolute  freedom  that  I  could 
afford  to  look  around  and  admire  the  beauty  of  the 
night  and  the  harbor  I  knew  so  well. 

It  was  now  evident  that  the  girl  had  been 
thorough  in  her  planning,  for  as  if  she  were  aware 
of  what  she  would  find  and  where  she  would  find  it, 
she  hurried  over  the  quay  until,  at  a  point  half-way 
to  its  end  a  man  stepped  from  behind  a  mooring 
post  and  confronted  her.  I  prepared  to  defend 
her,  but  she  held  up  her  hand  and  uttered  one  word 
in  a  low  voice,  at  which  the  man  —  I  now  saw  he 
was  a  negro  —  without  a  syllable  in  return,  made 
off  down  the  quay,  with  a  motion  for  us  to  follow. 
Like  a  black  shadow  he  moved,  his  bare  feet  mak 
ing  no  noise  on  the  planking. 

I  then  knew  that  he  had  been  looking  for  us, 
that  he  was  Letty's  brother,  and  that  Louise  had 
given  him  an  agreed-upon  signal.  I  recognized 
the  risk  to  him  —  to  all  of  us  —  if  some  bulkhead 


1 1 81         THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

watchman  or  the  patrol  should  blunder  down  the 
quay;  but  since  the  embargo,  which  had  paralyzed 
commerce,  there  had  been  little  need  of  watchmen 
along  the  warehouse-front. 

However,  it  was  a  moment  of  stress.  Not  an 
other  word  passed  between  any  of  us  as  we  came 
together  at  the  head  of  a  ladder  leading  straight 
down  and  at  the  bottom  of  which  was  a  dingey,  or 
schooner's  boat,  swinging  on  the  black  water. 

It  may  be  wondered  why  there  was  no  guard  at 
this  point,  but  the  reason  is  plain.  The  immense 
gathering  of  men  pressing  close  to  Boston  was 
thus  far  only  menacing  the  Neck,  and,  as  an  army, 
was  not  recognized  by  Gage.  At  that  time  the 
doughty  British  general  did  not  conceive  of  an  or 
ganized  war  with  the  colonies  as  possible,  and  the 
martial  law  he  imposed  on  the  city  was  not  to  guard 
Boston  from  the  effects  of  force,  but  to  keep  down 
the  patriotic  mob,  and  overawe  citizens  generally. 
The  east-  and  south-side  water-front  was  not  men 
aced,  nor  was  a  menace  thought  of  at  that  period, 
and  as  the  British  force  was  none  too  great,  nearly 
every  man  had  been  drawn  to  the  batteries  or  to 
the  fortifications  on  the  Neck. 

There  was  no  delay  in  getting  into  the  boat,  save 
for  the  awkwardness  of  descending  the  ladder  for 
the  girl,  who,  in  skirts,  made  difficult  work  of  it; 
but  in  a  few  minutes  we  were  settled  and  the  boat 
was  away  from  the  already  tottering  mass  of  decay 
ing  spiles,  and  out  upon  that  pocket  of  water  which, 


'TWIXT  DEVIL  AND  DEEP"     119 

with  the  Charles  River  on  the  north,  pinches  in 
the  land  and  makes  Boston  the  peninsula  it  is.  I 
took  a  long  breath  then.  "  At  last !  "  I  said,  bend 
ing  to  speak  into  the  girl's  ear. 

"  Thank  Heaven!  "  she  whispered.  "  I  could 
never  go  through  such  an  ordeal  again.  I  thought 
I  should  die  when  the  sentry  stopped  us." 

"But  how  about  Miss  Dench?"  I  asked. 
"Who  is  she?" 

"  I  am,  for  the  nonce,"  she  answered.  "  The 
pass  was  written  for  Mr.  Dench.  It  was  but  the 
work  of  a  moment  to  change  the  Mr.  to  Miss, 
but  I  was  afraid  of  the  trick  being  discovered." 

"  And  seven  days  ago  I  had  a  contempt  for  what 
I  called  your  weakness,"  I  said. 

"  Ah,  but  you  thought  me  a  boy  then!  "  she  re 
plied,  and  lapsed  into  silence.  It  certainly  was 
no  time  nor  place  for  conversation. 

The  muffled  oars  of  the  boat  made  little  or  no 
sound,  and  as  the  water  between  the  shores  is  very 
shallow,  there  were  no  ships  anchored  near  us. 
To  the  mainland  of  Dorchester  it  is  perhaps  three 
quarters  of  a  mile,  and  when  we  had  gone  about 
half  that  distance  my  gratitude  overflowed.  I 
leaned  forward  toward  the  negro,  who  was  tug 
ging  at  the  oars. 

"  My  man,  this  night's  work  will  be  the  mak 
ing  of  a  fortune  for  you  and  your  sister.  As 
soon  as  this  trouble  is  over  I  will — " 

"  Hush,  sah!  "  came  his  quick  return.     "  Looks 


120         THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

like  the  trouble  only  just  begun.  I  was  afraid  of 
this." 

I  was  about  to  ask  his  meaning  when  my  arm 
was  caught  by  Louise,  who  sat  at  my  side  in  the 
stern-sheets.  At  that  moment  I  saw  a  boat  shoot 
out  from  the  shadow  and  make  toward  us,  and 
at  the  same  instant  a  hoarse  voice  came  across  the 
water  : 

"Boat  ahoy!  Cease  way  at  once  or  I'll  fire 
into  you !  " 

I  did  not  have  to  be  told  the  situation.  We  had 
been  discovered  by  a  cursed  patrol-boat,  and  mat 
ters  bore  a  serious  look,  for  the  pass  which  was 
good  on  the  street  would  be  of  no  earthly  use  here. 

Something  like  a  groan  came  from  the  negro 
and  he  at  once  ceased  rowing,  though  instead  of 
sitting  quietly  and  allowing  us  to  bear  the  brunt 
of  the  coming  interview,  he  looked  at  the  fast-ap 
proaching  guard-boat  as  if  calculating  its  distance, 
then  leaned  toward  me  and  spoke  rapidly: 

"  If  you  have  any  regard  fo'  a  service,  sah,  you 
will  not  say  a  word  about  me  to  them  that's  comin'. 
I  have  done  mah  best  fo'  you.  Heaven  give  you 
luck,  sah." 

With  this  he  slid  himself  over  the  gunwale  and 
lowered  himself  into  the  water.  A  moment  later 
I  saw  his  black  head  disappear  in  the  direction  of 
Dorchester,  he  swimming  easily  and  silently. 

I  was  too  astonished  to  speak  to  him,  indeed  I 


;'TWIXT  DEVIL  AND  DEEP"     121 

had  little  to  say.  To  Louise  the  negro's  action 
came  as  a  stimulant.  She  grasped  my  hand. 

"  Do  as  he  did,"  she  whispered.  "  They  will 
not  harm  me.  Quick,  take  this.  I  would  not 
have  it  found  on  me.  It  is  the  pass." 

As  she  spoke  she  thrust  the  paper  into  my  hand, 
but  I  was  too  dumfounded  to  act,  and  the  idea  of 
deserting  the  girl  was  repugnant.  I  could  not  do 
it. 

Nor,  indeed,  would  I  have  had  time  to  get  away 
unnoticed,  for  the  patrol  was  coming  hand  over 
fist,  and  I  could  now  count  the  men  in  her  —  four 
at  the  oars  and  three  sitting  astern.  In  a  moment 
they  were  alongside  and  a  boat-hook  fastened  on  to 
our  gunwale,  while  a  lantern  which  had  been  cov 
ered  by  a  tarpaulin  was  held  aloft  by  the  officer 
in  charge. 

"What  are  you  doing  here?"  he  demanded, 
his  eyes  playing  between  the  girl  and  myself. 

"  Going  across,"  I  returned. 

"That's  obvious!     Have  you  a  pass?" 

"  I  have,"  I  said,  though  I  knew  the  paper 
would  be  worthless  in  our  present  case.  Instead 
of  demanding  it,  the  officer  peered  closely  at  me. 

"By  Heaven,  sir!"  he  exclaimed,  "you  look 
as  if  just  from  the  shambles!  Who  are  you?" 

"  That  is  nothing  to  the  case,"  I  answered, 
now  absolutely  hopeless.  "  Take  us  where  you 
wish,  but  I  trust  you  will  consider  the  lady.  She 


122          THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

is  the  victim  of  private  persecution,  as  am  I,  and 
I  was  helping  her  to  escape.  That  is  why  we  are 
here." 

"  Rather  a  romantic  explanation,"  returned  the 
officer,  not  ill-naturedly.  "  But  I  will  take  you 
in  charge  and  look  into  your  credentials  later. 
Are  you  armed?  " 

"  Not  even  with  a  penknife,"  I  returned. 

"Ay?  Well,  a  man  of  your  bulk  would 
hardly  need  a  weapon!  From  whom  are  you 
running?  " 

"  It  matters  nothing  now,"  I  returned,  thor 
oughly  cast  down.  "  I  will  explain  later." 

"Very  good,  my  man!"  he  returned,  and  it 
was  evident  that  the  presence  of  the  lady,  who  had 
not  spoken  a  word,  made  him  a  trifle  lenient 
toward  me.  At  all  events,  despite  my  desperate 
appearance  he  seemed  to  consider  me  as  harmless. 
He  gave  no  order  to  search  either  of  us,  know 
ing  we  were  at  his  mercy,  and  lowering  the  lantern, 
he  spoke  sharply  to  the  bowman : 

"  Sentor,  jump  aboard  and  make  her  fast  to 
our  stern.  I'll  tow  them  in." 

The  order  was  quickly  obeyed,  and  then  came 
the  command  to  "  give  way,"  and  in  the  wake  of 
the  patrol-cutter  we  moved  out  toward  the  Brit 
ish  fleet,  the  man,  Sentor,  still  in  our  boat.  It 
was  at  this  juncture  of  affairs  that  I  very  quietly 
dropped  overboard  the  stone  I  had  carried. 

And  now,  with  the  certainty  of  destruction  be- 


'TWIXT  DEVIL  AND  DEEP"     123 

fore  me  it  occurred  to  me  that  I  had  been  over- 
heroic,  and  something  of  a  fool  as  well,  not  to 
have  at  once  followed  the  negro.  By  remaining 
I  had  done  the  girl  no  service,  and,  indeed,  when 
it  should  be  discovered  that  her  companion  was 
Devil  Darcy,  her  case  would  be  rather  prejudiced 
than  otherwise.  Now  that  she  was  out  of  the 
hands  of  Dench  and  in  care  of  the  authorities, 
she  would  be  better  conditioned,  while  I  would  be 
in  a  greater  predicament  than  when  in  Dench's 
cellar.  They  hanged  deserters. 

These  things  went  through  my  mind  as  we 
forged  along,  though  I  said  nothing  of  them  to 
the  girl,  whose  hand  I  was  now  holding.  I  saw 
that  her  face  looked  white  in  the  gloom,  and  her 
bosom  rose  and  fell  rapidly;  but  not  a  word  did 
she  say,  not  a  sound  did  she  make.  Was  she 
afraid  for  herself?  I  thought  not.  Nothing 
very  serious  could  happen  to  her,  and  she  might 
easily  explain  to  her  captors  what  she  had  not  ex 
plained  to  me  —  the  reason  of  her  flight. 

But  as  for  myself,  why  should  I  trammel  her 
by  my  unnecessary  presence?  She  could  tell 
enough  of  my  story  to  justify  herself.  And  each 
instant  was  carrying  me  nearer  to  destruction. 

I  made  up  my  mind  then  to  do  a  desperate 
thing,  and  with  the  sudden  resolve  came  a  quick 
tightening  at  my  heart  as  I  bent  toward  Louise 
and  whispered: 

"  I  am  going  to  leave  you.     The  risk  is  but 


i24         THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

from  a  bullet  fired  in  the  dark.     God  bless  you. 
May  we  meet  again." 

She  turned  her  white  face  toward  me,  but  I  gave 
her  no  time  to  answer.  In  my  sudden  ecstasy  I 
thrust  the  folded  pass  into  my  mouth,  jumped  to 
my  feet,  and  cast  myself  into  the  water. 


CHAPTER  XII 

THE    BLACK  WATER 

THOUGH  there  was  no  moon,  the  night 
was  starlit  and  the  darkness  over  the  bay 
not  profound.  As  there  was  but  little 
breeze  to  roughen  the  water,  I  knew  that  my  head 
against  the  comparatively  smooth  surface  would 
present  a  fair  mark  for  a  musket  until  I  should 
get  some  distance  from  the  boats,  and  therefore 
I  was  not  foolish  enough  to  rise  and  strike  out 
for  the  Dorchester  shore,  which  was  now  within 
easy  swimming  distance.  That  being  the  natural 
direction,  I  did  not  take  it,  though  I  had  thrown 
myself  into  the  water  on  that  side,  and  knew  that 
the  patrol  would  look  for  me  to  make  toward 
the  nearest  land. 

I  shall  never  forget  the  chill  of  the  black  water 
as  I  struck  it,  nor  my  sense  of  the  narrow  hold  I 
had  on  life.  I  was  like  a  gambler,  desperate  from 
his  losses,  taking  a  wild  chance  on  a  final  throw 
of  the  dice  though  with  tremendous  odds  against 
him.  And  yet,  I  knew  that  the  single  chance  must 
be  taken,  and  taken  then,  if  at  all.  But  my  act 
had  not  been  born  of  a  blind  impulse,  and  I  had 
not  left  out  of  consideration  the  undoubted  fact 

125 


126         THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

that  the  officer  would  look  upon  it  as  the  act  of 
a  man  intent  on  self-destruction. 

As  my  plan,  seemingly  due  to  no  wit  of  mine, 
unfolded  itself  in  a  flash,  as  though  sent  from 
above,  I  saw  its  feasibility;  and  it  was  this  that 
made  me  keep  my  brain  steady  as  I  went  beneath 
the  water. 

Now,  instead  of  making  straight  for  the  Dor 
chester  shore,  the  heights  of  which  had  loomed 
black  against  the  starlit  sky,  and  which  were  to 
play  such  a  decisive  part  in  the  future,  I  dived  far 
below  the  surface,  and  turning,  struck  out  under 
the  boat,  coming  up,  as  I  had  hoped  to  do,  close 
beneath  her  starboard  quarter,  easing  myself  to 
the  surface  without  a  splash. 

God,  how  good  was  the  first  breath  of  air  to 
my  strained  lungs!  And  now,  instead  of  swim 
ming  away,  I  brought  my  head  close  beside  the 
craft's  flaring  stern,  and  steadying  myself  by  a 
hand  on  an  empty  pintle-ring,  awaited  events. 
In  whichever  direction  the  patrol  went  I  would 
go  the  opposite  one. 

Even  by  the  time  I  reached  the  surface  the 
painter  holding  the  wherry  had  been  cast  off,  and 
the  shouts  and  confusion  in  the  forward  boat  told 
me  how  unexpected  had  been  my  move.  I  heard 
the  officer  order  his  men  to  "  cease  way,"  and  for 
a  moment  there  was  profound  silence. 

"What  was  that,  Sentor?  "  finally  sang  out 
the  officer. 


THE  BLACK  WATER  127 

"  The  man  went  overboard,  sir,"  answered  the 
fellow. 

"Fell  or  jumped?" 

"  Jumped,  sir,  I  take  it." 

"  'Fore  God,  he  must  have  been  a  parlous  vil 
lain!  Whereaway  is  he?" 

"  Nowheres  in  sight,  sir.  He  went  over  an' 
down,  an'  gave  no  warnin'." 

"  What,  man !  Not  see  him !  Where  are 
your  blasted  eyes?  You'll  sweat  for  this  !  Look 
alive,  boys !  Half  a  crown  for  the  first  man 
marking  him !  Make  ready  to  fire.  I  must  have 
him  dead  or  alive !  Starboard,  give  way.  Lar 
board,  back  water." 

I  heard  the  ominous  clicking  of  two  musket- 
locks,  and  knew  by  the  order  that  the  patrol-boat 
would  swing  off  toward  the  Dorchester  shore;  in 
deed,  I  soon  saw  its  shadowy  bulk  moving  through 
the  segment  of  a  circle,  the  light  from  the  now 
uncovered  lantern  glinting  across  the  water.  It 
was  evident  that  the  officer  intended  to  be  on  the 
safe  side  and  cut  me  off  from  the  nearest  land. 

In  a  moment  or  two  the  patrol  lay  still  on  the 
water,  every  eye  aboard  her  being  strained  to  find 
me,  but  as  I  hung  close  against  the  black  stern  of 
the  wherry,  and  was  two  hundred  feet  away,  I 
could  not  be  distinguished  in  the  more  than  semi- 
darkness. 

And  now  I  saw  that  I  had  reasoned  without  tak 
ing  into  consideration  a  very  important  factor  — 


128          THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

and  that,  the  man  called  Sentor.  Had  it  not 
been  for  him  I  would  have  struck  out  for  the  mid 
dle  of  the  bay,  as  the  matter  of  merely  keeping 
afloat  for  an  hour  or  two  troubled  me  not  the  least, 
?even  in  my  comparatively  weakened  state.  But 
I  knew  that  such  a  move  would  be  at  once  discov 
ered  by  the  sailor,  and  the  alarm  once  given,  I 
would  be  in  a  desperate  situation,  even  were  I  not 
shot  off-hand. 

The  girl  was  acting  admirably.  She  had  not 
screamed,  nor  did  she  break  down;  from  her  si 
lence  and  the  steadiness  of  the  boat  I  gathered 
that  she  did  not  stir,  and  was  far  from  guessing 
that  she  had  fainted. 

How  long  I  hung  in  the  stern  of  the  wherry 
I  do  not  know;  it  seemed  for  hours,  though  it 
was  probably  less  than  five  minutes.  The  situa 
tion  could  not  be  indefinitely  prolonged;  and  even 
if  prudence  told  me  to  remain  as  I  was  my  nerves 
forbade  it. 

I  could  stand  the  tension  no  longer;  my  busi 
ness  was  to  escape,  and  not  hang  there  like  a  pickle 
in  brine  until  the  cold  of  the  water  rendered  me 
helpless.  And  if  the  patrol-boat  came  back  and 
rounded  the  stern  of  the  wherry  I  was  bound  to 
be  discovered. 

I  made  up  my  mind  to  move  before  I  became 
too  numbed  to  do  so;  I  would  take  a  long  breath, 
sink  myself  and  swim  under  water  as  far  as  pos 
sible,  trusting  that  the  gloom  would  protect  me 


THE  BLACK  WATER  129 

when  I  came  to  the  surface,  and  I  was  already 
expanding  my  chest  in  a  deep  suspiration,  when 
the  man  called  Sentor  brought  matters  to  a  sud 
den  climax  by  clambering  astern. 

Before  I  fully  realized  in  which  direction  he 
was  moving,  his  head  appeared  over  the  gunwale. 
As  he  saw  me,  he  let  out  a  wild  yell: 

"I  have  him  —  I  have  him!  Boat  ahoy!" 
and  with  that  he  made  a  lunge  for  me  and  fast 
ened  firmly  to  my  hair. 

It  was  now  or  never  with  me,  and  there  was 
but  one  thing  to  do.  Drawing  myself  upward 
with  one  hand  on  the  gunwale,  with  the  other  I 
grasped  the  man's  shirt,  and  then  throwing  my 
self  backward,  put  all  my  weight  on  him.  The 
move  was  unexpected. 

In  the  unsteady  craft  the  fellow  lost  his  bal 
ance,  and  after  wildly  clawing  at  the  gunwale  in 
an  effort  to  save  himself,  he  plunged  head  first 
into  the  bay,  but  still  with  a  grip  on  my  hair. 

Under  ordinary  circumstances,  the  sailor  would 
have  been  a  plaything  for  me,  as  in  two  seconds 
I  was  aware  that  he  was  unable  to  swim,  but  as  it 
was  the  situation  was  a  mighty  serious  one;  for 
the  fellow's  deathlike  clutch  on  my  hair  dragged 
me  with  him,  and  together  we  went  toward  the 
bottom  until  my  pent  breath  seemed  about  to 
burst  my  body.  If  ever  a  man  was  desperate  I 
was  then,  and  acting  from  pure  instinct  I  planted 
my  foot  on  the  sailor's  stomach,  and  with  a  vio- 


i3o         THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

lent  kick  tore  myself  from  his  hold,  leaving  a 
bunch  of  hair  in  his  hand  with  the  feeling  that  I 
had  been  scalped.  Ere  the  patrol-boat  was  fairly 
under  way  in  response  to  his  call  I  had  come  up 
again,  this  time  on  the  starboard  side  of  the 
dingey.  „ 

And  now  I  knew  that  the  game  of  hide-and- 
seek  was  up,  and  that  inaction  would  no  longer 
serve  me;  so,  after  taking  two  or  three  deep 
breaths,  I  struck  out  ere  my  head  came  within  the 
radius  of  the  lantern,  and  as  quietly  as  possible 
made  my  way  toward  the  black  land.  So,  as  God 
willed  it,  by  the  time  the  guard  had  rescued  the 
half-dead  Sentor  I  was  well  beyond  easy  ken. 
from  the  cutter,  and,  having  no  desire  to  attract 
attention,  I  swam  slowly,  well  aware  that  I  would 
be  pursued,  and  equally  well  aware  that  the  chance 
of  the  cutter  taking  the  right  direction  was  fairly 
remote. 

And  so  it  was,  for  Fate  held  me  in  a  kindly  hand 
that  night. 

I  saw  the  boat  start  again,  but  it  went  straight 
toward  the  shore,  and  as  I  was  approaching  land 
obliquely  I  was  some  distance  from  it.  I  changed 
my  course  then,  turning  and  following  the  patrol's 
wake,  and  when  finally  it  went  east  and  along  the 
edge  of  the  land,  I  turned  west.  And  so,  after 
being  some  half  an  hour  or  more  in  water,  which 
was  none  too  warm  at  that  season,  I  pulled  myself 
up  over  the  rocks  of  the  steep,  and  stood  panting 


THE  BLACK  WATER  131 

like  a  racer.  Later  I  marked  both  boats  take  up 
their  original  course,  but  they  were  so  far  as  to 
be  but  moving  shadows.  I  breathed  a  blessing 
on  Louise  Selden,  and  turned  toward  the  heights 
above  me. 

Now,  at  that  moment,  I  had  no  idea  whether 
or  not  I  was  on  friendly  soil.  In  my  almost  total 
ignorance  of  events  I  was  only  aware  of  the  fact 
that  the  people  had  risen  against  the  troops,  and 
that  Boston  was  besieged,  though  by  what  num 
bers  and  on  what  lines  I  had  not  the  faintest  con 
ception. 

But  that  Dorchester  Heights  should  be  guarded 
by  my  countrymen  I  felt  certain,  knowing  what  a 
vantage  ground  it  was,  and  how  it  commanded 
the  city.  Hoping  that  at  the  top  I  would  find 
myself  among  friends,  I  climbed  the  acclivity.  At 
that  time  my  only  feeling  of  satisfaction  rose  from 
the  fact  that  I  had  escaped  the  malignity  of  Dench, 
and  had  outwitted  the  equally  dangerous  arm  of 
the  British. 

But  my  mission  had  been  a  dead  failure;  my 
letters  were  undelivered;  indeed,  it  was  now  out 
of  my  power  to  deliver  them,  as,  according  to 
Louise,  they  were  sewn  in  her  garments.  How 
she  had  learned  of  their  importance  was  a  pro 
found  mystery  to  me,  for  she  had  not  found  time 
to  tell  her  story.  I  knew  that  Brussel  must  figure 
largely  in  the  matter,  and  I  cursed  the  man  who 
had  caused  all  my  trouble,  swearing  between  the 


132          THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

chills  that  now  beset  me  that  if  ever  I  could  again 
get  within  close  range  of  the  villain  I  would  make 
him  suffer  as  he  had  never  suffered  before. 

Once  on  the  heights  I  looked  about  in  wonder. 
Not  a  guard  —  not  a  soul  was  in  sight,  not  a  sign 
of  camp  or  fortification,  and  so,  with  a  strange,  * 
uncertain  twist  in  my  head  which  I  had  never 
known  before,  and  flashes  of  heat  that  drove  off 
the  chills  only  that  they  might  gather  strength, 
I  went  westward,  as  I  afterward  discovered,  for 
I  had  lost  the  sense  of  direction  and  it  was  God's 
mercy  alone  that  kept  me  from  stumbling  east 
and  into  the  bay. 

An  hour  later  I  knew  —  but  only  foggily  — 
that  I  was  a  sick  man.  The  wound  on  my  head, 
captivity,  insufficient  food,  sleeping  in  a  damp  cell, 
and  at  last,  intense  nervous  strain  and  my  long 
immersion  in  cold  water,  had  been  too  much  for 
even  my  strength.  I  was  half-conscious  of  walk 
ing  along  a  deserted  highway,  and  for  a  while  I 
thought  that  Louise  Selden,  dressed  as  a  boy,  was 
just  ahead  of  me  and  ever  beckoning  me  on. 
Later  my  weakened  wits  took  flight  entirely;  the 
girl  suddenly  disappeared  and  there  stood  Dench, 
who  also  fled  when  I  approached  him.  I  met  * 
strange  shapes  in  the  dark  and  fought  with 
strange  enemies,  with  demons,  with  men,  striking 
out  right  and  left  with  my  bared  fists,  hearing 
horrid  sounds,  and  finally  went  whirling  away 
through  space,  falling,  falling,  much  as  I  had 


THE  BLACK  WATER  133 

seemed  to  fall  when  struck  down  in  the  lawyer's 
house.  Then  I  remembered  nothing.  When 
I  recovered  consciousness  it  was  to  find  myself  in 
a  room  into  which  the  sunshine  streamed  through 
a  low  window,  and  I  was  in  a  bed  that  was  drawn 
close  to  the  open  sash. 

Outside  a  small  fire  burned  on  the  ground,  a 
man  with  a  gun  on  his  shoulder  passed  and  re- 
passed  at  regular  intervals,  and  there  drifted 
through  the  sound  of  pickaxes  and  shovels  work 
ing  in  the  earth.  I  turned  in  bed  and  looked 
around  in  childish  wonder,  letting  out  a  groan 
equally  childish.  At  my  movement  a  man  came 
from  somewhere  in  the  room,  bending  over  me, 
and  despite  my  weariness  I  recognized  him  at 
once. 

It  was  Jacob  Moon,  whom  I  had  last  seen 
while  he  was  dragging  the  unconscious  sergeant 
from  the  coffee-room  of  the  White  Horse.  His 
fine  old  face  broadened  as  he  saw  my  open  eyes, 
and  his  voice  was  as  gentle  as  a  woman's  as  he 
said: 

"  Well,  lad,  it  looks  like  ye  had  got  safely 
through  this  neck  o'  the  woods.  Nay,  nay,  son," 
he  continued,  lifting  his  hand  in  protest  as  he  saw 
I  tried  to  speak,  "  I'll  do  the  talkin'  yet  a  whiles, 
an'  I  sense  what  ye  would  ask.  First,  ye  be  with 
friends;  second,  ye  have  been  like  a  hen  with  a 
stroke  in  the  head  these  ten  days;  an'  third  — " 

He   suddenly  ceased   speaking,   and  throwing 


i34         THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

back  his  heavy  gray  hair,  drew  himself  up  in  the 
attitude  of  "  attention."  I  turned  my  head  and 
saw  that  a  man  as  square-set  and  powerful  look 
ing  as  Moon  himself  had  come  to  the  window  and 
was  looking  in.  I  mind  me  he  was  dressed  in  a 
faded  uniform  with  soiled  yellow  facings,  and  for 
a  moment  I  thought  him  Moon's  twin  brother,  the 
two  looked  so  alike.  Resting  his  folded  arms 
comfortably  on  the  sill,  the  stranger  scanned  my 
face  for  a  moment,  his  sharp  blue  eyes  roving 
quickly  from  point  to  point,  then  his  face  broke 
into  a  rugged  smile  as  he  said:  "Ha!  By  the 
'Mighty,  but  I'm  glad  to  see  ye  be  in  the  land  o' 
the  livin' !  Likely  to  get  on,  Jacob  ?  " 

"  I'm  fain  to  think  he'll  now  pull  through,  sir," 
said  Moon,  raising  his  knuckles  to  his  forehead. 

"  Ay,"  was  the  return,  "  an'  if  I  don't  hang 
him  for  a  spy  or  have  him  in  the  stocks  for  bowl 
ing  over  my  picket,  I  may  need  his  sarvices.  He's 
too  sizable  to  be  wasted !  Get  the  lad  to  his  feet 
as  soon  as  may  be,  then  bring  him  to  me." 

Then  he  pulled  himself  up  and  with  a  grim 
smile  left  the  window  as  abruptly  as  he  had  ap 
peared  at  it.  I  shifted  my  eyes  to  Moon's,  and 
that  astute  person  read  my  question,  answering 
it  in  a  subdued  voice. 

"  It  was  Gineral  Israel  Putnam,  lad;  an'  I  take 
it  that  by  the  way  he  berated  ye  that  ye  be  in 
luck." 

I  had  heard  of  Putnam,  "  Old  Put "  of  the 


THE  BLACK  WATER  135 

French  War,  as  who  had  not,  and  was  about  to 
frame  a  question  when  Moon  nipped  it.  "  Not 
a  word,  son;  not  a  word.  I  have  my  instruc 
tions.  Later  ye  may  palaver,  but  now  sleep,  if  ye 


can." 


And  sleep  I  did,  to  wake  and  find  a  strange 
man  in  Moon's  place,  and  it  was  many  a  day  ere 
I  saw  the  kindly  old  face  again;  for  I  was  up  and 
had  gathered  a  measure  of  strength  by  the  time  he 
reappeared  on  my  horizon. 

And  in  the  meantime  I  was  held  a  prisoner. 
Not  a  close  one;  but  as  my  full  story  was  as  yet 
unknown,  and  no  one  demanding  it,  I  was  still 
looked  upon  with  a  measure  of  suspicion,  and  was 
not  allowed  to  leave  the  camp,  which  I  learned 
was  in  Roxbury,  its  works  facing  Boston  Neck 
and  the  fortifications  through  which  I  had  passed 
with  Louise  Selden. 

This  state  of  things  endured  until  the  last  of 
May,  and  then  Moon,  as  suddenly  as  he  had  gone, 
put  in  his  reappearance.  Mighty  glad  was  I  to 
meet  the  old  man  again,  and  mighty  surprised  I 
was  to  learn  from  him  that  portion  of  my  life  un 
known  to  myself.  It  seems  that  while  in  a  state 
of  delirium  I  had  wandered  along  the  Dorchester 
road  until  I  struck  the  American  picket-line.  In 
the  madness  and  strength  of  my  fever  I  had  at 
tacked  the  single  sentry,  disarming  him  and 
nearly  killing  him  before  help  arrived,  and  then  I 
incontinently  attacked  the  whole  guard,  which,  tak- 


136         THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

ing  me  to  be  a  lunatic  at  large,  were  about  tum 
bling  me  into  the  bight  of  the  bay  when  old  Moon 
happened  along  and  recognized  me. 

"  And,"  said  he,  "  I  saw  ye  had  been  through 
sore  travail,  sensing  ye  were  a  sick  man  an'  no  bed 
lamite.  So  ye  were  brought  into  the  lines,  an'  I 
went  to  Old  Put  with  as  much  of  yer  story  as  I 
knew.  That  saved  ye  from  the  lock-up,  son,  an' 
the  general  ordered  ye  to  be  cared  for  like  a  Chris 
tian.  There  ye  have  it  all  at  one  b'ilin'.  What 
be  you  goin'  to  do?  " 

"  Go  back  home  as  a  failure,  likely,"  I  returned, 
being  low  enough.  "  It  is  about  all  that  is  now 
left  for  me,  as  Doctor  Warren  is  out  of  the  ques 
tion  at  present."  And  so  I  opened  my  heart  to 
the  old  man,  telling  him  of  the  girl,  of  Brussel  and 
my  fight  with  him,  of  my  imprisonment  and  escape, 
and  of  my  final  adventure.  He  listened  in  won 
der,  and  when  I  was  through  he  brought  his  great 
hand  down  on  his  buckskined  thigh  with  a  sound 
like  a  pistol-shot. 

"  Ye  a  failure !  Heaven  save  us !  An'  what 
might  success  be  like?  As  for  the  letters  —  we 
were  both  blind;  what  they  contain  matters  little 
at  this  stage,  I  take  it,  the  fat  bein'  in  the  fire 
an'  blazin'.  As  for  Warren  an'  studying  for  a 
leech,  I  opine  it  will  be  a  fair  long  time  ere  he 
can  give  ye  his  attention." 

"  'Tis  that  I  fear,"  I  returned.  "  The  thing 
has  come  strangely  about.  And  I  would  like  to 


THE  BLACK  WATER  1331 

inquire  what  became   of  you  the  night  we  first 
met." 

Moon  smiled  grimly.  "  When  I  left  the  bar 
of  the  White  Horse,"  he  said,  "  I  meant  to  be 
back  in  a  jiffy;  but  after  draggin'  that  lump  of 
a  soldier  to  the  cellar,  where  I  dropped  him  to  the 
floor,  I  heard  others  go  into  the  bar  an'  so  got 
myself  into  the  kitchen,  where  I  could  see  with 
out  bein'  seen.  I  saw  the  neat  way  in  which  ye 
took  the  officer  down,  an'  saw,  too,  ye  needed  no 
help  o'  mine.  An'  the  sergeant  found  his  way 
from  below  and  came  on  the  ground.  When  ye 
went  I  knew  it  was  time  for  me  to  be  off  also,  but 
I  waited  long  enongh  to  hear  about  the  comin' 
of  the  troops,  an'  as  that  was  what  I  was  there 
for,  I  sailed  off  to  give  Adams  an'  Hancock  proper 
warning.  It  was  them  I  stood  guard  for,  so  to 
speak;  an'  when  Pitcairn  looked  for  them  in  Lex 
ington,  I  bein'  head  of  him,  they  had  gotten  clean 
away.  'Twas  a  pity  I  thought  nought  about  the 
letters." 

"It  was  strange  misfortune  about  them,"  I  said. 
"  And  now  they  are  sewn  in  a  woman's  clothing, 
and  I  know  not  her  condition.  I  would  I  knew 
she  was  not  suffering." 

Moon  clapped  his  hands.  "  A  brave  lady,  that, 
lad;  and  one  worthy  of  a  man's  mettle!  Will  ye 
now  rest  easy  on  the  chance  she  is  in  no  trouble?  " 
asked  the  old  man,  sharply  scanning  my  face. 

"  What  do  you  mean?  " 


i38          THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

"  I  mean  that  you  are  not  needed  here,  my  son, 
while  yonder  ye  may  be.  Had  I  your  years,  an' 
was  there  a  woman  who  considered  me  as  you  have 
been  considered,  I  would  raise  Heaven  an'  Hell  to 
get  to  her  and  fetch  her  from  the  coil  she  is  doubt 
less  in.  Look  now!  There  be  twenty  thousand 
men  around  Boston,  an'  Gage  is  trembling  in  his 
boots  for  fear  they  will  break  in  on  him.  An' 
'tis  likely  they  will  as  soon  as  the  mob  is  organized 
an'  has  a  proper  leader.  What  then?  Why,  the 
infernal  regions  would  be  a  dead  calm  as  com 
pared  with  the  state  of  the  city  then;  and  think  of 
a  helpless  lady  being  there  alone.  Ye  be  young 
and  strong,  and  —  by  the  piper  —  ye  go  before 
Putnam  this  day.  I  had  clean  forgot  my  errand." 


CHAPTER  XIII 

UNCERTAINTY 

I  THINK  I  failed  to  at  once  completely 
grasp  old  Moon's  meaning;  and  its  drift 
was  left  unconsidered  just  then,  for  with 
out  delay  we  started  for  Putnam's  headquarters. 
That  doughty  personage  remembered  me  well 
enough,  but  there  was  little  cordiality  shown  me 
even  after  he  heard  my  story,  he  sitting  in  muddy 
boots  and  with  little  of  a  military  air  about  him. 
All  I  gained  from  him  was  a  joke  regarding  my 
size  and  present  weakness,  and  a  relief  from  even 
technical  arrest.  He  even  refused  to  consider 
me  in  the  light  of  a  recruit  until  I  was  more  fit 
for  service.  I  did  not  press  the  matter. 

So  I  was  in  no  shape  to  join  the  forces  besieg 
ing  Boston  —  a  matter  I  had  small  taste  for,  be 
ing  too  impatient  for  duty  in  ranks.  I  had  plenty 
of  time  to  digest  Jacob's  words  regarding  the  pos 
sible  peril  of  Louise  Selden,  and  it  only  increased 
my  general  discontent. 

I  was  in  sore  straits  at  this  time.  I  was  with 
out  money,  and  without  the  strength  to  ride  home 
ward,  even  had  I  a  horse.  My  clothing  was  in  a 
terrible  state  of  shabbiness,  and  at  last,  to  make 
matters  worse,  I  was  deprived  of  my  only  friend 

139 


140         THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

in  camp,  as  it  was  at  this  juncture  that  Moon  was 
again  ordered  away  somewhere,  leaving  me  with 
out  a  soul  on  whom  to  lean,  though  first  he  emp 
tied  his  purse  and  divided  his  small  store  of  coin 
with  me.  Then  I  bethought  me  of  Able  of  the 
White  Horse,  and  between  short  walks  and  vari 
ous  lifts,  I  managed  to  get  to  Menotomy;  but  the 
landlord  could  only  promise  me  food  and  shelter 
until  such  time  as  I  could  pay  him.  As  for  my 
horse,  that  had  been  long  gone. 

So,  after  writing  to  my  father,  and  sending  the 
letter  by  way  of  Hartford,  I  settled  down  to  wait 
for  cash  and  returning  strength,  and  was  about  as 
unhappy  a  non-combatant  as  existed  within  the 
lines. 

Right  here  I  pass  over  nearly  a  month  of  bodily 
inactivity  and  low  spirits,  though  all  the  time  my 
health  was  improving  and  my  strength  growing 
to  its  normal  force.  But  I  seemed  to  have  no  ob 
ject  in  life,  and  felt  like  a  coward  as  I  lounged 
through  the  busy  camps,  holding  little  converse 
with  any  one.  And  these  camps  had  grown 
smaller,  for  many  of  the  besieging  force  had  lost 
the  spur  of  excitement  and  novelty  and  had  gone 
to  their  homes.  Had  Gage  known  of  the  condi 
tions  he  might  have  swept  over  the  then  feeble 
earthworks  and  scattered  the  but  half-organized 
band  that  held  him  closely  to  Boston.  But  his 
late  experience  had  evidently  given  him  a  whole 
some  fear  of  what  he  had  called  "  the  rabble," 


UNCERTAINTY  141 

and  he  was  further  deceived  by  that  old  fox,  Put 
nam,  who,  for  his  enemy's  edification,  would  often 
take  a  single  battalion  of  half-armed  rustics, 
marching  and  countermarching  them  around  a  hill 
that  was  in  full  view  from  the  Neck,  until  it  ap 
peared  as  if  five  thousand  men  were  menacing  that 
one  point. 

I  might  write  reams  of  the  existing  demoraliza 
tion  of  the  American  camp;  of  the  shortage  of 
powder;  of  the  scarcity  of  arms;  of  the  incipient 
mutinies,  and  the  lack  of  dicipline;  but  I  will  not, 
these  matters  not  being  germane  to  my  story, 
though  they  might  make  interesting  reading. 

As  for  myself,  despite  the  activity  about  me  I 
grew  to  be  morose.  Though  surrounded  by  a 
host  I  was  alone,  my  soul  grinding  upon  itself. 
I  thought  much  of  the  girl  I  had  left,  and  always 
with  a  restless  feeling  born  of  the  fact  that  I  was 
not  doing  my  duty,  nor  could  I  exactly  see  in 
what  direction  my  duty  lay.  I  wondered  where 
she  was,  and  what  her  state.  I  wondered  if  I, 
for  whom  she  had  risked  so  much,  had  not  been 
the  cause  of  a  great  deal  of  suffering  on  her  part, 
and  for  the  simple  reason  that  I  had  been  in  her 
company.  I  felt  like  an  ingrate  as  I  thought  of 
her,  knowing  that  save  for  her  I  would  now  prob 
ably  be  dead  or  in  a  military  dungeon  awaiting 
execution  as  a  deserter. 

At  this  time  I  would  have  gone  into  Boston, 
had  it  been  possible,  and  would  have  willingly 


1 42          THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

undergone  great  risk  after  getting  there,  but  Bos 
ton  was  sealed  against  me  and  every  one.  I  lost 
much  time,  too,  thinking  of  Brussel,  and  the  hatred 
for  him  that  grew  in  me  was  an  unholy  thing.  As 
for  Dench  —  well,  I  hoped  to  have  an  interview 
with  him  some  day. 

And  so,  in  useless  repining  together  with 
equally  useless  wondering,  and  not  having  heard 
a  word  from  home,  the  time  passed. 

It  was  the  i6th  day  of  June,  and  I  was  sitting 
under  a  tree  in  the  yard  of  the  White  Horse,  when 
a  man  rode  in  through  the  gate,  and  I  saw  he  was 
Jacob  Moon.  Save  for  my  father,  I  know  not 
whom  I  had  rather  have  seen.  My  spirits  were 
at  a  low  ebb,  there  then  being  little  about  me  to 
justify  my  name  of  "  Devil,"  and  I  was  wonder 
ing  how  I  could  down  my  cursed  melancholy,  when 
I  recognized  the  old  man.  He  leaped  from  his 
horse  as  if  he  were  a  man  of  but  thirty  instead  of 
being  nigh  twice  that,  and  came  toward  me,  his 
hands  outstretched,  his  broad  face  aglow. 

"  An'  I  heard  ye  were  hereabouts,"  he  said 
heartily,  wringing  my  hand.  "  An'  I  heard  too, 
that  ye  were  in  the  dumps,  likely  wi'  homesickness. 
God  bless  me!  'Tis  a  thing  I  know  nothing  of, 
having  no  home  —  nor  kith  nor  kin,  for  that  mat 
ter.  'Tis  a  fair  shame  for  such  a  lump  o'  flesh 
an'  blood  as  ye  to  be  low  in  spirit!  Well,  I  can 
wake  ye,  I  fancy !  I  have  great  news !  " 

"  From  my  father?  "  I  asked  eagerly. 


UNCERTAINTY  143 

"  Nay,  lad,  I  have  not  been  in  the  direction  of 
your  father.  But  first,  what  be  ye  doin'  these 
days?" 

"  Playing  the  part  of  a  woman,"  I  answered. 
"  Twiddling  my  thumbs  in  weariness.  I  cannot 
see  that  it  is  my  duty  to  join  yonder  mob.  I  can 
not  stand  like  a  stake  in  a  fence  and  go  through 
the  manual  of  arms.  I  want  work  —  I  want  life, 
I  want  action.  I  have  a  mission  in  Boston,  but 
know  not  how  to  get  there." 

"Not  bein'  a  bird  to  fly  to  it?  Ay,  so! 
Well,  a  mole  may  go  where  a  bird  may  not! 
However,  son,  I  think  I  can  put  ye  into  the  way 
of  action  ere  long;  an'  mayhap  the  way  to  Boston 
will  open  up  for  ye." 

"  How?  "  I  asked,  for  the  man's  manner  told 
me  more  than  his  words. 

"  I  know  not  that  I  should  speak  of  it,  seeing 
the  powers  that  be  are  keepin'  it  quiet  the  while; 
but  I  will  to  thee,  for  ye  can  be  trusted.  And, 
moreover,  I  would  like  your  company.  Listen, 
son,  but  breathe  no  word  of  it.  This  night  Pres- 
cott  is  ordered  to  Charlestown  peninsula,  and  will 
there  throw  up  a  battery  on  the  heights  above  the 
town  —  on  Bunker's  Hill.  Such  be  the  orders. 

"  Ye  may  know  what  that  will  mean  when  Gage 
catches  sight  o'  the  works.  I  shall  happen  there 
—  by  accident,  like  —  and  as  a  free-lance,  son,  as 
a  free-lance.  Be  ye  ripe  to  go  with  me?  Who 
knows  what  may  come  of  it?  " 


i44         THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

I  became  wide  awake  then.  Here  was  a  pos 
sible  opening;  in  any  event,  it  would  be  an  adven 
ture.  But  I  would  not  appear  to  leap  at  the 
chance  until  I  knew  more. 

'  Jacob,"  said  I,  "  you  go  here  and  there  on 
short  notice,  and  seem  to  know  things  that  are  be 
yond  common  guessing.  Who  and  what  are  you? 
Is  it  a  fair  question?  " 

"  Well,  son,"  he  said,  with  a  slow  smile,  "  ye 
might  call  me  a  sailor,  or  a  soldier,  or  a  farmer. 
I  have  been  all  three,  for  the  last  having  seen 
sarvice  with  Braddock.  Now,  I  am  on  the  road, 
as  'twere." 

"  A  messenger?  " 

"  Ye  might  so  call  it.  I  am  at  the  orders  of 
but  a  few,  an',  like  the  mole  I  spoke  of,  I  do  my 
work  out  of  sight.  Lad,  I  am  like  to  enter  Bos 
ton  ere  Gage  gets  out,  an'  that,  too,  without  pass 
or  word.  D'ye  see?" 

"A  spy!     You  a  spy?"  I  exclaimed. 

"  Plush,  lad!  "  he  said,  his  face  turning  severe. 
u  I  am  a  man  willing  to  sarve  his  country  in  any 
way  he  can.  Names  count  for  nothing.  Will  ye 
go  with  me  this  night?  " 

"  Ay,  that  I  will,"  I  assented,  holding  out  my 
hand,  while  my  spirits  lightened  at  the  prospect. 
"  Must  I  join  the  ranks?  " 

"  Nay,  if  with  me  ye  go  as  a  free-lance." 

"  But  I  am  unarmed!  " 

"  An'  without  patience,  too.     I  think  that  ye 


UNCERTAINTY  145 

will  lack  nothing  of  arms  when  the  trouble  be 
gins.  At  first  ye  can  dig,  an'  that's  what  will  be 
wanted  of  us  both.  The  rest  remains  to  chance." 

"  Then  command  me." 

"  In  only  this.  Be  at  the  meeting  of  the  Med- 
ford  an'  Charlestown  roads  this  night  by  nine 
o'clock.  I  would  cross  the  Neck  ahead  of  Pres- 
cott  an'  his  force.  I  cannot  say  what  will  happen 
to  ye,  but  ye  will  be  nearer  the  city  there  than 
here.  You  will  not  fail?  " 

"  I  will  not  fail." 

"  The  Heaven  be  with  ye.  If  ye  have  aught 
to  say  to  your  father  leave  the  written  word  with 
Able,  for  it  may  chance  that  neither  of  us  comes 
back."  He  climbed  to  his  saddle  as  he  spoke. 

"  Is  it  so  desperate?  "  I  asked. 

He  turned  and  pointed  in  the  direction  of 
Charlestown,  his  fine  face  becoming  impressive 
in  its  expression.  "  Son,"  he  said;  "yonder  is  a 
bare  hill  cut  with  a  few  rail-fences  an'  marked  by 
a  few  trees.  'Tis  hot  there  to-day,  under  the  sun, 
but  if  it  be  not  hotter  to-morrow,  an'  if  the  drone 
o'  bees  give  not  place  to  the  hum  o'  bullets,  never 
again  trust  Jacob  Moon  for  a  soothsayer.  Des 
perate  !  Ay,  'twill  be  desperate.  Does  the  idea 
balk  ye  from  meetin'  me?  " 

"  It  will  not,"  I  promptly  answered.  "  I  shall 
not  shrink  from  where  you  are  willing  to  go." 

"  I  thought  as  much,"  he  returned,  with  his 
close-lipped  smile;  and  so,  with  a  wave  of  his  hand 


146          THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

he  rode  off.  Surely,  thought  I,  if  I  am  called  a 
devil  on  account  of  some  college  pranks  and  a  fool 
ish  dependence  on  my  strength,  what  might  be 
a  proper  name  for  that  old  man? 

I  stood  looking  after  him  and  I  cannot  say  how 
my  heart  went  out  to  him  —  how  it  still  goes  out 
to  his  memory. 


CHAPTER  XIV 

ON  BUNKER   HILL 

NOW,  at  that  time  I  had  no  notion  of  ac 
complishing  more   than  breaking  what 
was  fast  becoming  a  settled  melancholy. 
Certainly  I  was  far  from  guessing  that  my  inor 
dinate  appetite  for  adventure  would  be  satisfied, 
and  that  I  would  soon  meet  those  with  whom  I 
wished  to  reckon.     I  know  from  experience  that 
it  is  well  that  the  future  is  hidden,  for  had  I  been 
aware  of  what  lay  before  me  I  would  have  quailed 
at  it  though  always  the  right  was  on  my  side. 

Up  to  that  time,  save  for  the  clash  on  the  ipth 
of  June,  there  had  been  no  fighting  betwixt  the 
troops  and  the  people,  unless  some  small  skir 
mishing  on  the  outlying  islands  over  the  cattle 
there  could  be  called  fighting. 

But  now  a  large,  aggressive  movement  was  to 
take  place,  and  my  common  sense  told  me  it  was 
likely  to  result  in  a  serious  collision.  And  in  my 
crazy  spirit  of  adventure  this  fact  lightened  my 
heart.  I  did  not  think  of  danger  to  myself,  or 
so  little  that  I  did  not  consider  Moon's  last  words, 
and  proceeded  to  the  rendezvous  without  a  line 
to  my  father  or  even  telling  Able  where  I  was 
going. 

147 


148          THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

To  the  army  at  large  there  had  been  given  no 
hint  of  what  was  in  the  wind,  nor  did  those  below 
the  highest  officers  know  of  what  was  toward 
when  a  body  of  over  one  thousand  men,  mostly  of 
Connecticut,  were  ordered  to  parade  on  Cam 
bridge  Common  that  evening  at  six  o'clock.  By 
then  I  had  walked  into  Cambridge  on  my  way  to 
meet  Moon,  and  I  guessed  what  was  meant  by 
the  unusual  array;  ay,  I  was  certain  of  it  when, 
halting  for  a  moment,  I  saw  my  old  "  prex," 
Langdon,  of  Harvard,  stand  up  before  them  and 
lift  his  voice  in  prayer,  his  long  white  hair  stream 
ing  in  the  wind.  And  it  was  with  something  of  a 
feeling  that  a  period  had  come  to  my  useless  days 
ti  at  I,  with  my  hat  off  and  head  bowed,  though  I 
make  no  profession  of  being  religious,  echoed  the 
old  gentleman's  fervent  "  Amen."  I  went  my 
way  with  a  lighter  heart  than  I  had  known  for 
many  weeks. 

It  was  striking  nine  in  Charlestown  when  I 
came  to  the  crossroads,  the  sound  of  bells  drift 
ing  clear  on  the  light  breeze.  From  there  I  could 
see  the  causeway  to  the  south,  and  beyond  it  the 
quiet  British  gunboats  drawn  so  as  to  command 
the  neck  of  land  which,  like  Boston  Neck,  binds 
the  Charlestown  peninsula  to  the  mainland. 

There  was  nothing  to  alarm  them;  the  land  was 
still  as  night  fell;  nothing  seemed  to  threaten;  the 
vessels  lay  in  the  distance  a  dumb  menace  only, 
the  soft  purple  of  the  sky  bending  over  the  scene. 


ON  BUNKER  HILL  149 

I  well  remember  that  night;  it  was  warm  and  fine, 
and  the  stars  were  very  clear  and  seemed  to  have 
drawn  close  to  the  world  —  perhaps  to  witness 
the  horrors  of  the  coming  day. 

Jacob  was  before  me  at  the  rendezvous,  though 
on  foot,  and  was  pacing  restlessly  back  and  forth. 
He  appeared  to  have  much  on  his  mind,  and  wasted 
few  words  on  me  as  we  started  for  the  heights, 
only  explaining  in  a  low  voice  that  we  were  ahead 
of  the  digging  force.  We  walked  across  the  then 
unguarded  Neck,  going  by  the  main  road  and  not 
meeting  a  soul,  but  we  soon  left  the  highway  and 
climbed  the  first  hill  looming  before  us.  The 
long  grass  was  ready  to  cut,  and  the  dew  lay 
heavy  on  it.  By  then  it  was  deep  darkness.  At 
the  top  of  the  hill  Moon  stopped  and  looked 
around  him. 

"  I  do  not  fancy  it,"  he  said.  "  We  would 
make  a  better  showin'  of  our  teeth  if  we  cast  up 
our  works  yonder  instead  of  here  on  Bunker's 
meadow.  And  he  pointed  to  a  lower  lift  of  land 
—  a  hill  closer  to  Boston  the  lights  of  which  were 
plain  from  where  we  stood.  "  Ay,"  he  contin 
ued.  "Why  was  it  not  considered?  Breed's  is 
some  hundreds  of  feet  nigher  the  land's  end." 

I  saw  that  much  myself,  and  was  about  to  ask 
him  a  question  when  he  caught  me  by  the  arm. 

"Hist,  lad!  we  were  none  too  soon!  Here 
they  come,  an'  without  having  waked  the  lion !  " 

I  turned  and  saw  a  body  of  men  toiling  up  the 


1 50         THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

slope,  and  I  marveled  at  the  little  sound  they 
made ;  it  was  like  a  phalanx  of  ghosts,  they  moved 
so  quietly.  Ahead  came  two  men,  each  with  a 
dark  lantern.  We  stood  still  until  they  were  upon 
us,  and  then,  as  a  light  was  flashed  into  my  face, 
I  heard  an  exclamation  and  a  low  alarm.  The 
next  moment  we  were  pounced  upon. 

Well  it  was  for  me  that  Putnam  would  always 
push  himself  to  the  front  of  every  movement 
whether  ordered  or  not.  He  had  no  command 
on  Bunker  Hill  that  night,  but  he  was  there,  as 
was  Prescott,  whom  I  now  knew  by  sight.  When 
we  were  brought  before  him  Putnam  recognized 
us  both  and  had  us  set  free. 

I  know  little  beyond  that  because  I  at  once 
became  identified  with  the  force  on  the  hill,  and 
worked  like  a  common  soldier,  though  unattached 
to  any  organization.  Nor  can  I  tell  how  that 
night  passed.  I  know  that  I  found  a  spade  in 
my  hand  and  that  I  dug  and  dug,  the  perspiration 
pouring  from  me  like  rain.  I  had  lost  track  of 
Moon  and  worked  among  strangers,  but  every 
man  was  a  friend  in  those  hours;  and  it  was  upon 
Breed's  Hill  instead  of  Bunker's  that  we  toiled, 
though  whether  Moon's  influence  had  aught  to 
do  with  the  change  I  cannot  say.  History  gives 
the  reasons;  one  may  read  it  elsewhere  than  here; 
I  am  writing  of  that  which  concerned  few  save 
myself. 


ON  BUNKER  HILL  151 

I  think  no  body  of  men  ever  skinned  the  face 
of  mother  earth  with  more  vigor  and  in  greater 
silence  than  we  did.  It  was  astonishing  how  the 
bank  of  soil  seemed  to  leap  forward,  and  with 
what  accuracy  the  lines  were  followed.  Not  a 
lantern  was  shown  until  the  ditch  was  deep  enough 
to  shield  the  light.  It  was  a  time  of  suppressed 
excitement;  the  wind  blew  softly  from  the  west, 
and  the  clear  stars  twinkled  from  a  bed  of  dark- 
blue  velvet. 

The  only  sounds  were  an  occasional  low-spoken 
word  of  command,  the  click  of  stones,  the  plunge 
of  picks  and  the  dull  thud  of  falling  soil.  Men 
spat  on  their  hands,  but  spat  quietly.  Not  a 
curse  did  I  hear,  nor  was  there  more  than  a  whis 
per  among  us.  Once  I  straightened  up  to  ease 
my  back  and  looked  at  the  sleeping  city  across  the 
harbor  and  the  town  beneath  us.  In  Charlestown 
not  a  light  could  be  seen;  in  Boston  a  watch-fire 
burned  on  Copp's  Hill,  but  that  was  all. 

Was  Louise  in  the  town?  Was  she  again  in 
the  power  of  Brussel?  Very  likely,  as  her  iden 
tity  was  now  doubtless  known.  And  Dench? 

"  Curse  Dench!  "  I  exclaimed  under  my  breath, 
and  my  hands  clenched  the  spade.  I  could 
scarcely  make  out  the  ships  in  the  bay,  though  the 
anchor  lights  showed  their  localities;  but  plainly 
through  the  silence  I  caught  the  words  of  the 
sentry  on  the  one  nearest,  and  his  "  All's  well," 


152     ,     THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

came  like  music  as  it  drifted  upward.  It  made 
me  laugh,  and  I  fell  to  work  with  a  vigor  which 
now  saddens  me  to  think  is  lost  forever. 

I  know  not  what  time  it  was  when  I  first  saw 
Dr.  Warren.  I  had  met  him  many  times  while 
I  was  a  student  in  Harvard,  but  I  did  not  press 
my  business  on  him  at  this  time.  He  stood  on 
the  fast-growing  embankment  talking  to  Prescott, 
and  he  waved  his  arm  toward  Boston.  I  saw  him 
later  —  shot  down  by  — 

But  wait.  It  makes  my  blood  boil  when  I 
recall  that  sight. 

I  think  the  Almighty  blinded  the  British  that 
night.  It  was  long  after  I  could  plainly  distin 
guish  my  companions'  faces  in  the  growing  light 
before  the  enemy  comprehended  the  fact  that  they 
had  been  outgeneraled  by  what  they  called  an  in 
consequential  mob. 

The  iyth  of  June  is  nigh  the  longest  day  of  the 
year,  and  it  was  broad  dawn  when  I  first  knew  we 
were  discovered.  At  about  four  o'clock  there 
came  the  clapping  report  of  a  cannon,  and  as 
plainly  as  ever  I  heard  a  lark  sing  I  heard  the 
whistle  of  a  round  shot  as  it  passed  above  us. 
The  ball  had  been  opened  by  H.  M.  sloop  Lively. 

I  think  every  man  stopped  work  for  a  moment, 
and  many  a  face  paled.  But  almost  at  once  the 
tension  of  silence  was  broken  by  a  long-drawn 
and  defiant  yell  as  a  second  shot  tore  through  the 
air,  screeching  its  threat  as  it  flew. 


ON  BUNKER  HILL  153 

An  instant  later  Prescott  had  leaped  to  the  top 
of  the  earthwork  and  was  running  along  the  para 
pet,  shouting  encouragement  to  those  who  hesi 
tated  in  the  face  of  the  enemy's  fire.  So  we  fell 
to  work  again,  though  I  noticed  a  few  weak  spirits 
throw  down  their  tools  and  sneak  away  as  soon 
as  the  officer  was  out  of  sight. 

Of  that  morning  I  can  tell  but  little,  for  the  rea 
son  that  memory  does  not  serve  me.  I  know  that 
I  wielded  pickax  and  spade  as  if  my  life  depended 
on  it,  as  it  doubtless  did.  I  know  that  through  all 
that  hot  forenoon  the  heavens  rang  with  the  crash 
of  cannon,  and  later  I  became  dimly  conscious 
that  Charlestown  had  been  fired  and  was  burning 
fiercely. 

Hurrying  men  were  all  round  me,  and  once  I 
saw  a  dead  body  being  carried  by.  The  hill  be 
hind  me  was  dotted  with  running  figures,  some 
going,  some  coming,  and  there,  too,  I  again  saw 
the  ubiquitous  Putnam,  now  on  horseback,  tear 
ing  hither  and  yon,  careless  of  the  flying  round- 
shot,  his  voice  bellowing  orders  above  the  crash 
of  cannon.  Around  me  laughter  and  curses 
mingled  with  the  stroke  of  pick  and  roar  of  guns; 
but  through  it  all  we  dug  and  dug,  and  not  a  shot 
was  returned  from  the  pile  of  raw,  brown  earth 
that  protected  us. 

By  noon  I  was  worn  out.  Why  I  was  where  I 
was  I  hardly  knew;  but  by  subsequent  events  I 
have  reason  to  believe  that  the  hand  of  Fate  had 


i54          THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

led  me  to  Breed's  Hill,  and  kept  me  there  until 
my  hour  should  strike.  And,  unguessed  by  me, 
it  was  about  striking. 

I  remember  eating  something  at  some  time, 
but  what  it  was  and  who  gave  it  I  have  no  idea. 
I  think  I  was  somewhere  near  the  breaking-point, 
for  the  surrounding  excitement  made  no  impres 
sion  on  me.  I  must  have  worked  in  a  waking 
dream,  but  I  clearly  remember  the  turning-point 
when  I  heard  the  order: 

"  Man  the  parapets !  Throw  down  your  tools 
and  take  up  arms !  Attention !  Attention !  " 

Then,  indeed,  I  came  to  my  senses  and  looked 
about  me  with  an  eye  of  comprehension  and  won 
der  that  so  much  had  been  accomplished  in  so 
short  a  time.  The  embankment  was  six  feet  high, 
and  now  it  was  lined  with  men  peering  over  its 
top;  they  no  longer  held  tools;  each  man  held  a 
firearm  of  some  kind;  all  but  myself.  I  remem 
bered  then  that  I  was  only  a  free-lance.  If  I  fell 
in  the  coming  muss  not  even  my  name  would  ap 
pear  on  any  roll. 

In  the  field  back  of  the  works  and  on  Bunker 
Hill  I  saw  a  number  gathered,  and  a  body  of  men 
was  hurrying  to  a  long  line  of  what  I  thought 
were  earthworks  to  the  east  of  us,  though  I  after 
ward  knew  it  was  but  a  hay-stuffed  fence. 

Now  I  realized  that  the  thunder  of  cannon  had 
ceased,  and  in  the  comparative  silence  I  plainly 
heard  the  crack  and  snap  of  the  houses  burning 


ON  BUNKER  HILL  155. 

in  Charlestown.  Those  round  me  no  longer 
cursed  or  laughed;  a  grim  silence  seemed  to  have 
fallen  over  the  surging  body  which  was  lately  so 
busy.  It  was  like  the  lull  that  heralds  a  convul 
sion  of  nature. 

I  stepped  on  the  banquette  of  the  fort  and 
brought  my  head  above  the  parapet.  On  one  side 
of  me  was  an  elderly  man  coolly  pouring  powder 
into  his  rifle's  pan;  on  the  other  was  a  boy  with  a 
long  fowling-piece,  his  eyes  snapping  from  excite 
ment,  his  red  lips  wet,  and  his  cheeks  were  like 
roses. 

Little  wonder  that  he  was  fascinated  by  what 
he  saw,  for  the  sight  might  have  stirred  the  blood 
of  a  dying  man. 

The  British  were  coming.  Already  they  had 
reached  the  first  fence,  over  which  they  clambered, 
breaking  their  regular  line.  In  front,  to  the  right 
and  to  the  left  they  were  coming,  a  magnificent 
array  of  crimson,  gold  lace,  flashing  bayonets  and 
waving  banners. 

This  was  war!  I  felt  my  pulses  leap,  and  so 
engrossed  in  the  spectacle  was  I  that  I  forgot  for 
the  moment  that  I  was  in  extreme  danger  and  that 
I  could  not  lift  a  finger  to  defend  the  fort  from 
the  oncoming  enemy. 

It  was  a  great  moment  when  they  reformed  and 
began  to  fire,  still  advancing  as  they  loaded.  In 
the  enclosure  I  did  not  see  a  man  fall,  nor  did  I 
hear  an  answering  shot.  To  all  .appearances  the 


156          THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

British  were  having  their  own  way,  but  they  did 
not  have  it  for  long. 

Down  our  line  came  the  order :  "  Do  not  fire 
before  the  word,"  and  it  quelled  the  most  nervous; 
but  there  grew  a  restlessness  that  was  hard  to  curb. 

Between  the  belligerents  all  was  the  picture  of 
peace.  On  the  deserted  slope  in  front  of  us,  up 
which  the  waving  red  line  was  toiling,  the  tall 
grass  bent  and  sprung  in  the  breeze  and  a  few 
birds  fluttered  fearlessly.  On  Boston  Heights  a 
fine  haze  of  smoke  told  of  where  the  battery  lay, 
and  every  ship  in  the  bay  had  its  veil.  There  was 
a  wonderful  attraction  in  the  outlook,  an  attrac 
tion  that  grew  to  be  fascination  even  to  me  as  the 
serried  lines  swung  forward.  I  had  no  business 
to  be  where  I  was,  but  I  could  not  have  left  the 
spot. 

On  came  the  British,  fence  after  fence  melting 
away  as  they  advanced,  and  as  they  drew  near  I 
could  plainly  hear  the  commands  of  the  officers 
and  file-closers. 

Would  the  fort's  defenders  never  fire?  Would 
the  command  never  come?  In  the  peculiar  state 
of  things  it  appeared  to  me  that  our  leaders  had 
become  paralyzed. 

But  there  came  no  word  at  this  time,  and  yet  I 
could  now  hear  the  tread  of  the  body  of  advanc 
ing  men;  I  could  also  hear  the  band  playing  where 
it  was  stationed  at  Mulford's  Point,  and  could  al 
most  catch  the  sound  of  metal  against  metal  as 


ON  BUNKER  HILL  157 

the  last  boats  discharged  the  reserved  corps  on 
the  beach. 

On  they  came.     Would  the  tension  never  end? 

I  dug  my  fingers  into  the  earth.  Oh,  had  I 
but  possessed  a  gun!  I  could  now  plainly  see 
each  face,  they  were  so  near;  and  scanned  the  line, 
hoping  for  a  sight  of  Brussel.  Was  he  among  the 
advancing  lines  ?  I  hoped  so,  but  why  I  could  not 
have  told. 

Would  the  word  never  come  ? 

They  would  be  scaling  the  parapet  in  another 
moment. 

I  was  ready  to  scream  from  sheer  nervousness, 
and  I  might  have  done  something  foolish,  only 
at  that  instant  there  came  a  single  word  that  rang 
clear  through  the  air: 

"FM" 

My  ears  sang  under  the  crash  of  the  explosion 
that  followed.  The  red  line  ceased  its  regular 
movement  and  seemed  to  pitch  forward  like  a 
falling  wall.  The  front  rank  was  nearly  annihi 
lated  by  the  opening  blast  that  broke  from  the 
crest  of  the  hill,  and  ran  along  the  line  of  the  fence 
like  a  train  of  powder.  Where  there  had  been  an 
orderly  array  of  crimson  ranks  there  was  now 
dire  confusion. 

For  volley  followed  volley,  and,  though  for 
some  minutes  there  was  a  return  fire  by  the  enemy, 
nothing  made  of  flesh  and  blood  could  have  long 
withstood  the  rain  of  lead  pouring  from  the  earth- 


i5 8          THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

works.  I  was  driven  to  the  point  of  frenzy;  and 
in  the  madness  of  excitement  I  cast  a  two  pound 
stone  at  the  enemy,  and  perhaps  not  without  re 
sult,  for  they  were  within  easy  range  of  a  strong 
arm.  I  forgot  all  danger  to  myself,  being  car 
ried  away  by  the  lust  of  combat,  and  was  picking 
up  another  stone  to  throw,  when  the  youth  at  my 
side  gave  a  sidelong  lurch  against  me,  nearly 
throwing  me  from  my  narrow  foothold  on  the 
banquette. 

I  caught  him  in  my  arms,  and  saw  by  the  dark 
spot  in  the  center  of  his  young  forehead  that  he 
was  past  all  help ;  he  was  dead  ere  he  fell.  Carry 
ing  him  from  the  banquette,  I  laid  him  under  the 
single  tree  in  the  enclosure,  first  stripping  from 
him  his  powder-horn  and  bullet-pouch.  The  gun 
was  still  gripped  in  his  stiffened  fingers,  and, 
loosening  his  grasp,  I  loaded  the  empty  weapon 
and  hurried  back  to  the  point  I  had  left. 

But  before  I  arrived  there  there  came  a  wild 
yell,  and  a  slackening  of  fire  told  a  story.  When 
I  looked  over  the  parapet  the  enemy  were  in  full 
retreat,  some  parts  of  the  line  being  on  a  dead  run 
down  the  hill.  All  was  in  disorder,  the  retreat 
ing  body  becoming  a  fleeing  mob.  Had  we  pur 
sued  then  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill  might  have 
been  definitely  settled  at  once. 

Behind  the  retreating  men  the  earth  seemed 
to  heave  in  agony;  the  ground  was  thickly  covered 
by  the  dead  and  wounded,  many  of  the  latter  roll- 


ON  BUNKER  HILL  159 

ing  in  acute  pain,  and  some  trying  to  crawl  down 
the  hill.  The  erstwhile  tall  grass  was  flattened, 
and  wherever  one  looked  there  was  the  debris 
of  a  defeated  army.  The  loss  within  the  forti 
fication  had  been  slight,  but  even  now  no  man 
knows  how  many  fell  on  either  side  in  that  first 
attack. 

Behind  the  embankment  men  were  shaking 
hands  or  embracing,  while  on  nearly  every  face 
were  tears  of  excitement;  for  we,  the  colonists  of 
America,  had  learned  one  great  lesson,  a  lesson 
we  had  partly  known;  that  the  diciplined  British 
army  was  not  invincible. 

I  longed  to  see  old  Jacob  then,  but  he  was  no 
where  in  sight. 


CHAPTER  XV 

AT   CLOSE  RANGE 

THE  respite  gained  by  the  first  repulse  of 
the  enemy  was  a  very  short  one;  for 
hardly  had  the  redcoats  retreated  beyond 
musket-range  when  the  demoralized  force  was  re 
formed  and  led  to  a  second  attack. 

You  know  the  result.  You  have  read  how  they 
were  hurled  back  with  fearful  loss,  this  time  re 
treating  clear  to  the  beach. 

The  battle  had  got  into  my  brain,  and  I  loaded 
and  fired,  Heaven  knows  how  many  times,  until 
I  suddenly  awoke  to  the  fact  that  I  had  but  one 
more  charge  of  buckshot  and  barely  enough  pow 
der  to  drive  it  fifty  yards. 

Neither  by  begging  nor  the  promise  of  price 
could  I  obtain  another  grain;  for  every  man  I  ap 
plied  to  told  the  same  tale  of  shortage  of  powder 
and  ball.  And  it  struck  me  with  a  strange  sense 
of  coming  disaster  when  I  knew  the  little  fort's 
defenders  were  well-nigh  out  of  ammunition. 
No  one  had  looked  for  a  battle  of  this  propor 
tion. 

I  have  no  wish  to  go  into  the  details  of  the  day's 
160 


AT  CLOSE  RANGE  161 

disaster;  it  makes  unpleasant  reading.  But  I 
knew  disaster  was  at  hand,  as  I  saw  the  lines,  re- 
enforced  by  the  marines,  re-forming  on  the  beach, 
and  I  believe  we  all  looked  for  what  happened. 
One  cannot  fight  without  powder,  and  to  make 
matters  worse  the  ships  shifted  their  positions  that 
they  might  rake  part  of  the  works. 

Again  they  came,  but  no  longer  squarely  on  our 
front.  I  know  not  how  or  when  it  happened,  but 
ere  I  was  aware  of  it  we  were  beaten.  I  knew  it 
when  I  saw  the  stream  of  red  sweep  over  the  em 
bankment  and  leap  into  the  fort;  and  I  know,  too, 
subsequent  events  proving  it,  that  I  had  not  dis 
charged  the  last  load  in  my  gun;  I  probably  con 
sidered  it  useless. 

In  the  confusion  that  followed  I  saw  a  British 
soldier  making  for  me  with  leveled  bayonet,  his 
teeth  set,  the  perspiration  streaming  down  his  red 
face.  I  do  not  know  what  became  of  him,  though 
a  moment  later  I  was  aware  that  my  gun's  stock 
was  badly  broken  and  that  I  was  as  yet  unhurt. 

The  scrimmage  became  general,  and  hopeless 
for  us ;  men  fought  with  stones,  with  clubbed  mus 
kets,  with  hands  and  feet  and  teeth;  there  was 
little  firing,  and  little  need  of  it  for  the  enemy. 
We  were  already  in  full  retreat  —  those  who  were 
free  to  go. 

Somehow  I  found  myself  on  the  hill  behind  the 
fort  and  well  away  from  it.  Running  men  were 
all  about  me,  and  closing  up  with  us  were  the  vie- 


1 62         THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

torious  enemy,  not  now  in  a  regular  line,  but  pur 
suing  in  groups. 

I  was  out  of  breath  and  was  walking,  and  it 
was  at  this  time  that  I  found  I  was  near  Dr.  War 
ren.  He  was  stepping  backward,  defending  him 
self  with  a  sword  against  the  bayonet-thrusts  of  a 
soldier,  and  he  was  almost  alone.  As  I  started  to 
run  to  his  rescue  I  saw  an  officer  come  tearing  up 
the  incline,  the  hilt  of  his  broken  sword  in  one 
hand,  a  pistol  in  the  other.  I  saw  him  stop  and 
deliberately  aim  at  Dr.  Warren,  but  when  he 
pulled  the  trigger  there  was  but  a  flash  in  the  pan. 
And  then  I  recognized  the  man. 

He  was  Larry  Brussel. 

The  sight  of  him  brought  me  to  a  halt;  not 
from  fear,  but  from  sheer  surprise,  and  at  that 
instant  came  the  final  tragedy  of  Bunker  Hill. 
As  Brussel  realized  his  pistol  had  missed  fire  he 
threw  down  the  useless  weapon  with  an  oath,  and, 
seizing  a  musket  from  the  soldier  at  his  side,  he 
fired  pointblank  at  the  still  retreating  physician. 
Dr.  Warren  whirled  around  and  fell  on  his  face. 

I  seemed  to  awake  from  a  trance  and  feel  that 
every  drop  of  blood  in  my  body  was  in  my  head. 
At  this  inexcusable  murder  earth  and  sky  turned 
red  and  I  became  irresponsible;  though,  even  in 
that  state,  I  did  the  right  thing,  and  knew  what  I 
was  doing,  too. 

As  I  sprang  forward  Brussel  looked  up  from 
his  victim,  saw  me  coming,  and  recognized  me.  I 


AT  CLOSE  RANGE  163 

knew  that  by  the  start  he  gave.  But,  without  giv 
ing  him  a  chance  to  arm  himself,  I  raised  my  un 
dercharged  weapon  and  fired  at  him. 

The  recoil  of  my  piece,  light  though  it  was, 
proved  sufficient  to  finish  the  usefulness  of  the 
stock,  which  had  probably  been  shattered  on  the 
head  of  the  redcoat  who  had  attacked  me  in  the 
fort;  for  with  the  discharge  the  wood  broke  short 
off  and  left  me  with  but  little  more  than  the  barrel 
in  my  hand. 

As  for  Brussel,  he  could  thank  my  lack  of  am 
munition  for  his  life  that  day.  He  did  not  fall, 
though  that  he  was  hit  was  plain  enough.  His 
left  hand  dropped  the  musket  he  was  holding,  and 
with  his  right  he  grasped  his  left  shoulder  and 
staggered  back;  at  the  same  time  a  gush  of  blood 
ran  down  his  face,  where  one  of  the  buckshot 
struck,  but  had  not  the  force  to  penetrate  his  fore 
head.  In  a  second  he  recovered  himself  and  his 
fury  was  like  that  of  a  wounded  wild  beast  as  he 
shouted:  "  Catch  that  villain.  Let  him  not  es 
cape  !  " 

Had  there  been  but  one  or  two  to  contend  with 
I  might  have  made  an  effort  to  fight  my  way  from 
the  field  or  even  attack  with  the  barrel  of  the 
fowling-piece  I  still  held;  but  at  that  moment  a 
squad  of  the  British  came  running  up,  my  way  of 
retreat  was  cut  off,  and  before  I  was  hardly  aware 
of  the  fact  I  was  surrounded.  Casting  down  the 
useless  iron,  I  stood  still  and  threw  up  my  hands, 


1 64         THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

thus  making  myself  an  acknowledged  prisoner, 
and  to  the  man  whom  I  knew  would  show  me  scant 
mercy. 

Why  he  did  not  kill  me  then  and  there  is  a 
problem  I  have  never  been  able  to  fathom.  Per 
haps  it  was  that  the  murder  of  an  unarmed  and 
surrendered  prisoner  would  not  be  tolerated  even 
by  his  own  fellows;  but  I  rather  think  it  is  more 
probable  that,  having  me  at  his  disposal,  he  looked 
for  a  vengeance  more  satisfying  than  in  leaving 
me  dead  on  an  honorable  field.  For  I  am  now 
aware  that  he  had  in  mind  the  pleasure  of  seeing 
me  hanged  or  shot  as  a  deserter,  and  of  enjoying 
my  presumed  mental  agony  betwixt  my  sentence 
and  its  execution.  I  do  not  know  his  exact  motive 
in  then  sparing  me,  but  I  am  now  perfectly  aware 
that  I  played  into  Brussel's  hands  when,  later  in 
the  day,  I  acknowledged  to  the  provost  marshal 
that  I  was  a  free-lance,  unattached  to  any  organi 
zation,  and  therefore,  by  military  law,  a  free 
booter,  to  be  treated  on  land  as  a  pirate  is  treated 
at  sea.  As  a  result  I  could  not  be  looked  upon  as 
a  prisoner  of  war  subject  to  exchange. 

All  this  I  knew  later;  but  I  have  only  a  hazy 
recollection  of  what  immediately  followed  the 
murder  of  Dr.  Warren,  the  shooting  of  Brussel, 
and  my  own  surrender.  I  have  a  dim  recollection 
of  listening  to  a  furious  tirade  from  my  old  col 
lege-mate,  and  that  it  was  cut  short  when  he  came 
close  to  fainting  from  shock  and  the  drain  of 


AT  CLOSE  RANGE  165 

blood.  After  that  I  lost  sight  of  him  for  a  time, 
he  being  assisted  away,  and  I  was  marched  down 
the  hill  to  Moulton's  Point  and  placed  near 
though  not  with  a  number  of  other  prisoners,  not 
one  of  whom  I  knew.  As  a  mark  of  especial  at 
tention,  of  which  I  was  not  proud,  my  hands  were 
tied  behind  me,  I  being  the  only  man  thus  treated. 

I  remember  seeing  the  row  of  British  dead  gath 
ered  from  the  hill  and  laid  on  the  beach,  and  even 
now  I  can  hear  the  screams  of  the  wounded  as  they 
were  carried  by  me.  I  will  give  the  devil  his  due 
and  admit  that  none  of  the  prisoners  was  abused 
at  this  time,  although  their  hurts  were  not  at  once 
attended  to,  which  was  natural  enough,  the  sur 
geons  having  their  hands  full  in  caring  for  their 
own. 

No  man  wearing  a  red  coat  on  Charlestown 
peninsula  smiled  that  golden  evening;  the  victory 
had  been  too  expensive.  Of  the  gallant  band  of 
untrained  men  who  had  that  day  defied  England's 
power  there  were  scarcely  two  hundred  killed  and 
captured;  the  rest  had  made  good  their  escape 
across  the  Neck  after  having  caused  a  loss  to  the 
enemy  of  over  four  to  one.  Every  British  soldier 
had  a  stunned  and  wondering  look,  as  if  it  were 
already  fully  realized  that  the  capture  of  a  few 
more  hills  at  the  price  paid  for  Breed's  would 
decimate  the  British  Army. 

We  prisoners  were  at  last  huddled  in  a  bunch 
ranged  about  by  a  strong  guard,  and  it  was  sunset 


1 66         THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

ere  a  movement  was  made  to  take  us  to  Boston. 
I  was  then  thinking  that  old  Jacob  had  been  right 
in  a  roundabout  way  when  he  said  that  I  might  get 
into  Boston;  but  I  had  not  looked  forward  to  go 
ing  in  this  manner.  I  wondered  if  the  old  man 
had  been  on  the  field  during  the  fight,  and  how  he 
had  fared,  when,  like  the  crack  of  a  pistol,  I  heard 
my  name  called. 

"  Allen  Darcy.     Step  out." 

I  looked  up  and  with  something  of  a  start  rec 
ognized  the  soldier  calling  me.  He  was  none 
other  than  O'Hara,  the  sergeant  I  had  defied  at 
the  White  Horse,  and  that  his  call  had  something 
to  do  with  his  master,  Captain  Lawrence  Brussel, 
did  not  take  much  brain  exercise  to  render  certain. 
Surely  he  could  regard  me  with  little  more  favor 
than  did  Brussel  himself.  There  being  nothing 
else  to  do  I  advanced  toward  him  and  was  greeted 
much  after  the  manner  I  looked  for. 

"Come  with  me,  ye  black-hearted  dog!"  he 
said,  gripping  me  by  the  collar  and  swinging  me  in 
front  of  him.  Had  I  been  unbound  I  hardly 
think  he  would  have  touched  me,  but  as  it  was, 
in  my  helpless  condition  he  used  a  free  hand 
and  pushed  me  roughly  along  the  beach  until  we 
came  to  a  boat  drawn  up  at  a  little  stone  pier.  I 
then  knew  that  matters  were  coming  to  a  focus, 
for  seated  in  the  stern-sheets,  with  his  hand  bound 
up  and  his  arm  in  a  sling,  was  Brussel.  On  the 
thwarts  were  a  couple  of  sailors  with  oars,  and 


AT  CLOSE  RANGE  167 

near  the  officer  sat  a  soldier  armed  with  a  musket. 
I  wondered  what  was  about  to  happen. 

Was  I  to  be  thrown  overboard  in  the  middle 
of  the  bay?  Undoubtedly,  both  Brussel  and  the 
sergeant  were  equal  to  getting  rid  of  me  that  way, 
but  for  the  presence  of  others  it  might  have  been 
done.  However,  I  felt  safer  when,  after  I  en 
tered  the  boat,  the  sergeant  following,  there  came 
another  officer  —  a  major,  I  think  —  and  seated 
himself  by  Brussel.  Then  the  boat  put  off. 

I  knew  not  what  was  in  store  for  me  in  being 
thus  distinguished  from  my  fellows,  and  I  seemed 
to  care  little,  for  I  was  weak  from  want  of  food, 
and  had  been  without  sleep  for  thirty-six  hours; 
but  to  show  an  air  of  defiant  carelessness  regard 
ing  the  future  I  commenced  whistling  a  tune,  and 
stuck  to  it  until  I  was  sternly  commanded  by  the 
sergeant  to  cease. 

After  that  for  a  time  a  profound  silence  reigned 
in  the  boat.  I  looked  back.  In  the  waning  light 
from  the  west  I  could  see  that  the  British  were 
already  throwing  up  a  work  behind  the  patriot 
redoubt,  or  upon  Bunker  Hill  itself. 

It  would  be  a  gross  lie  for  me  to  say  that  I  was 
without  anxiety;  for  I  was  really  more  than  anx 
ious  about  myself.  It  was  strange  —  this  soli 
tary  removal  and  being  turned  over  to  the  two 
men  who  would  have  no  consideration  for  me. 
Perhaps  it  was  because  my  case  was  singular,  for, 
without  doubt,  I  was  the  only  man  unattached  to 


1 68          THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

any  organization  who  fought  upon  the  hill  that 
awful  day.  But  I  might  discover  my  status  and 
something  of  the  future  by  questioning;  anyhow, 
I  would  give  my  chief  enemy  to  understand  that 
I  was  aware  his  own  skirts  were  far  from  being 
clean. 

"  There  be  plenty  of  hills  between  Boston  and 
Cambridge,"  I  said,  speaking  for  but  not  to  Brus- 
sel;  "  and  to  capture  a  few  more  like  yonder  lift 
of  land  would  cost  the  king  a  sight  more  subjects 
than  he  could  command." 

The  major  stared  at  me;  Brussel  scowled,  but 
said  nothing.  Gaining  little  by  this,  I  changed 
my  tactics. 

"  Am  I  a  prisoner  of  war?  "  I  asked. 

"  You  are  a  deserter,"  burst  out  Brussel. 

"Ah!     Which  means—" 

"  That  you  will  be  tried  before  a  proper  court 
and  be  properly  shot,"  he  returned  quickly. 

"And  when?"  I  asked,  as  if  it  were  imma 
terial  to  me,  though  my  heart  began  to  beat 
quickly. 

"  None  too  soon  for  my  pleasure  and  your  de 
serts.  Cease  talking,"  he  returned. 

"  A  drumhead  court  probably,"  I  said,  ignoring 
his  command  and  finding  myself  in  a  position  to 
goad  him.  "  Well,  Heaven  grant  you  be  there 
as  a  witness,  and  also  Colonel  Dalrymple.  I  have 
some  information  for  him  that  would  be  more  sur- 


AT  CLOSE  RANGE  169 

prising  than  welcome,  and  in  about  the  same  meas 
ure  as  it  will  be  distasteful  to  you." 

It  was  becoming  too  dark  to  clearly  see  the 
man's  face,  but  I  felt  the  baleful  look  of  his  eyes. 
He  whispered  a  word  in  the  major's  ear,  and  the 
sergeant  bent  toward  me  and  hissed: 

"  Hold  yer  jaw,  ye  rebel,  or  I'll  open  ye  with 
this  bayonet!  " 

I  concluded  I  had  said  enough.  I  might  make 
Brussel  writhe,  but  I  could  not  harm  the  soldier; 
yet  I  ventured  one  more  shot. 

"  I  am  a  prisoner  of  war  and  no  deserter,"  I 
returned  stoutly  and  for  the  benefit  of  the  senior 
officer,  who  had  thus  far  remained  silent,  "  and 
if  Captain  Brussel  treats  me  unfairly  before  any 
court  it  will  be  to  his  own  undoing." 

Nor  did  this  provoke  a  return,  though  I  felt 
that  my  words  had  struck  home;  and  if  my  enemy 
had  before  held  a  doubt  of  what  I  had  overheard 
the  day  he  had  surprised  me  listening  at  his  uncle's 
door,  I  knew  he  doubted  no  longer. 

Somehow  I  did  not  feel  hopeless,  though  I  did 
feel  helpless,  and  thereafter  held  my  peace.  It 
was  not  many  more  minutes  ere  we  were  in  Bos 
ton,  landing  at  Hancock's  Pier;  and  there  both 
Brussel  and  the  major  disappeared  in  the  dark, 
leaving  me  with  the  sergeant  and  the  other  soldier. 

Then  I  knew  why  we  had  landed  where  we  did. 
It  was  because  of  its  nearness  to  the  common  jail, 


1 70         THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

for  into  it  I  was  unceremoniously  thrust.  I  was 
alone,  and  alone  I  remained  for  more  than  ten 
days,  poorly  fed,  with  no  companion,  and  with 
only  that  knowledge  of  the  outside  world  that  fil 
tered  through  the  soldier  who  served  me.  He 
was  a  garrulous  chap,  and  from  him  I  learned  that 
things  were  not  going  well,  and  that  the  prisoners 
were  to  be  shipped  over-sea  for  trial  in  England 
as  traitors  to  the  king.  It  was  not  admitted  that 
war  existed,  the  guard  told  me;  but  he  gave  me 
a  list  of  those  who  had  fallen,  or  died  from  the 
effects  of  the  hillside  fight.  I  was  astonished  at 
the  havoc  in  the  ranks  of  the  British. 

I  learned,  too,  that  Brussel  was  absent  on  sick- 
leave,  but  the  good-natured  private  could  not  say 
where  he  had  gone.  The  army  had  settled  down 
to  await  reinforcements  from  abroad  before  con 
tinuing  operations,  he  said,  and  there  was  a  short 
age  of  supplies.  That  was  all  I  learned  then. 

On  the  evening  of  the  eleventh  day  I  was  called 
for,  and  stepping  from  my  cell,  I  found  myself 
face  to  face  with  my  old  opponent,  Sergeant 
O'Hara.  What  was  coming  now?  I  asked  him 
the  question,  but  without  replying  he  handcuffed 
me  and  dragged  me  from  the  cell  and  into  the 
street  where  he  commanded  me  to  walk  ahead  of 
him.  It  was  almost  dark  by  then. 

I  thought  it  strange  that  if  I  were  at  last  being 
taken  to  trial,  it  should  be  held  at  this  hour, 
and  I  mentally  ran  over  the  story  I  should  tell  of 


AT  CLOSE  RANGE  171 

Brussel.  For  myself  I  had  little  or  no  hope, 
knowing  what  courts-martial  usually  meant,  but  the 
trial  before  me  was  not  of  the  nature  I  looked  for. 

We  walked  rapidly  along  the  deserted  water 
front  until  we  came  to  a  huge  warehouse,  which 
had  once  been  in  the  center  of  a  business  now 
dead.  It  was  abandoned  save  for  two  or  three 
soldiers  loitering  around  what  had  been  the  office 
door.  They  eyed  me  with  curiosity,  nodding  at 
my  guard,  as  we  passed  in. 

Here  had  been  the  counting-room,  but  now  lit 
tle  there  was  to  suggest  its  past  use  save  the 
broken  and  dusty  desk  against  the  wall;  it  was  evi 
dently  used  for  a  lounging-place  for  troops.  My 
idea  that  I  was  being  taken  to  a  court  for  trial 
was  soon  dissipated,  for  my  guide  pushed  me 
through  this  room  and  into  a  passage;  and  by  what 
I  saw  as  I  passed  an  open  door  I  knew  the  place, 
or  part  of  it,  had  been  transformed  into  a  tem 
porary  barracks. 

On  through  the  passage  and  through  several 
immense  rooms,  up  a  flight  of  stairs,  through  an 
other  barnlike  expanse  of  empty  rooms  once  filled 
with  goods  and  up  a  second  flight,  and  then  the 
sergeant  halted  in  front  of  a  door,  took  a  key 
from  his  pocket,  unlocked  it,  freed  my  wrists  of 
their  irons,  and,  giving  me  a  violent  push,  sent  me 
sprawling  into  the  black  space  of  the  room.  At 
the  crash  of  my  body  to  the  floor  there  came  from 
somewhere  the  clank  of  a  chain  and  a  long-drawn, 


172          THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

deep-mouthed  sound  like  the  yawn  of  a  wild  ani 
mal. 

The  door  was  at  once  locked  on  me,  and  I  could 
hear  the  man  outside  striking  a  flint  and  steel.  In 
a  moment  the  door  opened  and  a  lighted  candle 
was  set  on  the  floor  as  the  sergeant  stepped  into  the 
room. 

Unslinging  the  haversack  from  his  shoulder,  he 
threw  it  at  me,  but  it  missed  me  and  went  sliding 
over  the  boards. 

"Hi,  there!  Lucifer,  ye  beast!"  said  the 
man.  "  Watch  it  —  watch  it,  ye  fiend!  " 

With  that  he  went  out  again,  closing  and  lock 
ing  the  door  behind  him. 


PART  TWO 
CHAPTER  XVI 

THE    HOUND 

ALL  this  happened  so  suddenly  that  I  had  no 
time  to  take  note  of  my  surroundings  until 
he  had  gone,  and  then  I  got  to  my  feet  and 
looked  around. 

As  the  shaken  flame  of  the  candle  steadied  in 
the  still  air  of  the  now  quiet  room  I  saw  that  I 
was  in  a  perfectly  barren  apartment,  close,  un- 
ventilated,  and  evil-smelling,  a  room  which  might 
have  been  ten  by  fourteen  feet,  in  the  far  end  of 
which  was  a  closed  window  thick  with  dust,  this 
window  being  set  in  a  rough  door  let  into  an  arch 
of  brickwork. 

Extending  for  half  the  length  of  the  room  and 
stayed  to  the  hewn  rafters  of  the  ceiling  by  iron 
stirrups  was  a  great  beam  some  eight  or  ten  feet 
from  the  floor,  and  I  knew  that  its  outer  end  ex 
tended  beyond  the  building;  in  short,  it  was  a 
hoisting  beam  through  which  with  a  tackle  and 
fall  goods  were  raised  and  lowered  to  and  from 
the  different  floors  of  the  warehouse. 

But  it  was  neither  the  size  of  the  room,  nor  the 
173 


174         THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

window,  nor  yet  the  beam  which  first  caught  my 
attention  and  soon  brought  me  to  a  realization  of 
man's  inhumanity  to  man.  Truly,  though  I  saw 
these  things,  I  saw  enough  else  to  wonder  at;  for 
stayed  by  a  chain  which  was  fastened  to  a  staple 
driven  into  the  worn  casing  of  the  arch  was  an  im 
mense  hound,  gaunt  and  red-eyed.  On  the  floor 
round  him  were  a  number  of  cleanly  gnawed 
bones. 

I  do  not  know  the  animal's  breed,  but  he  was 
short-haired,  striped  in  fine  gray,  and  his  immense 
jowls  hung  loose  under  small  ears;  he  must  have 
weighed  close  to  seventy-five  pounds,  and  it  did 
not  take  me  many  minutes  to  discover  his  temper. 
Why  he  was  there  I  might  only  guess,  and  my 
guess  was  that  the  brute  had  been  relegated  to 
this  out-of-the-way  spot  because  of  military  regu 
lations  against  animals  in  barracks.  Chained  as 
he  was  I  had  no  fear  of  him. 

He  got  slowly  to  his  four  feet  and  looked  at 
me,  his  eyes  winking  sleepily;  then  the  scent  of 
something  evidently  came  to  him,  and  he  stepped 
to  what  I  now  saw  was  the  haversack  the  sergeant 
had  thrown  at  me,  and  which  had  fallen  within 
the  bounds  of  the  dog's  leash.  He  nosed  the 
heavy  canvas  bag,  turning  it  over  and  over;  then 
settled  down  with  it  between  his  paws,  the  ex 
tended  shoulder-strap  laying  well  away  from  him 
and  toward  me. 

Now,  I  was  not  in  the  least  averse  to  having  a 


THE  HOUND  173 

dog  for  a  companion,  but  I  had  no  notion  of  let 
ting  him  monopolize  food  I  was  greatly  in  need 
of;  indeed,  it  was  imperative  that  I  should  have 
it;  and  so,  with  no  feeling  of  enmity  toward  the 
animal,  I  reached  for  the  strap  when  like  a  flash 
the  brute  was  on  his  feet,  and,  letting  out  a  fiend 
ish  howl,  he  sprang  for  me. 

It  was  fortunate  for  me  that  he  was  near  the 
length  of  his  leash  as  he  sprang,  for  I  had  barely 
time  to  shrink  back  when  his  forefeet  struck  me, 
knocking  me  over;  the  chain  then,  tightening  on 
the  wide  leather  collar,  jerked  the  animal  to  his 
back;  but  in  a  twinkling  he  was  on  his  feet  and  fac 
ing  me,  his  eyes  now  blazing  and  every  smooth 
white  tooth  showing  in  a  fiendish  grin. 

I  was  stricken  with  horror.  If  the  hound  was 
not  rabid,  he  was  worse,  for  a  rabid  animal  has 
no  intelligence  to  guide  him,  attacking  blindly; 
here,  however,  was  an  open  and  alert  enemy. 

And  now  I  saw  the  sinister  intention  of  the 
sergeant  in  not  only  housing  me  with  this  brute, 
but  in  throwing  the  haversack  within  the  radius 
of  his  chain  and  telling  him  to  watch  it.  I  saw 
more  than  this.  To  me  there  clearly  opened  the 
plot  to  get  rid  of  me. 

So,  I  was  no  deserter  to  be  tried  by  a  court- 
martial,  but  a  victim  of  private  hate.  I  might 
have  known  that  Brussel  would  not  dare  have  me 
tried;  but  how  he  had  obtained  permission  to  re 
move  me  to  this  place  I  do  not  know,  nor  have 


176         THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

I  ever  been  able  to  discover.  It  was  probably 
through  an  understanding  with  Loring,  the  com 
missioner  of  prisoners,  who  had  charge  of  all  cap 
tured  men.  Betwixt  him  and  Crean  Bush  the 
beleagured  city  of  Boston  suffered  more  than  it 
had  any  need  —  and  Gage  well  knew  them  both. 
It  were  easy  for  Loring  to  prick  a  man  on  his  list 
as  being  dead,  and  then  pass  him  to  the  tender 
mercy  of  any  who  would  pay  for  the  privilege. 
To  me  it  was  now  certain  that  I  had  been  placed 
where  I  was  for  the  purpose  of  being  mangled  by 
an  uncontrollable  fiend  in  the  shape  of  a  hound, 
and  when  at  last  my  remains  were  discovered  the 
whole  matter  would  be  looked  on  as  —  perhaps 
an  accident;  and  the  brain  that  could  conceive  such 
a  plot  might  easily  conceive  an  excuse. 

All  this  flavored  of  Brussel;  his  name  was  writ 
ten  large,  and  it  was  in  line  with  his  previous  ef 
fort  to  dispose  of  me.  The  man  was  a  coward  — 
a  black-hearted  coward  without  nerve  enough  to 
strike  openly,  and  the  sergeant,  undoubtedly  one 
of  the  officer's  own  ilk,  was  ready  enough  to  obey 
a  hint  as  well  as  an  order. 

Was  this  the  hound  I  heard  referred  to  while 
I  had  listened  at  Bench's  door?  I  had  no  doubt 
of  it;  its  name,  "Lucifer,"  almost  identified  its 
owner. 

Now  I  set  myself  against  the  wall  and  returned 
the  dog's  glare  by  a  steady  look  as  I  calculated  my 
chances.  They  appeared  slim  enough,  if  I  did 


THE  HOUND 

not  obtain  the  haversack,  and  as  slim  if  I  made  any 
further  effort  to  get  it  away  from  the  hound;  he 
was  held  by  a  chain  six  or  eight  feet  in  length, 
while  the  haversack  lay  within  two  feet  of  its 
limit. 

That  haversack  I  must  have.  How  was  I  to 
get  it?  Certainly  the  brain  of  man  against  that 
of  a  brute  would  be  equal  to  the  solution  of  such  a 
problem. 

The  solution  came  to  me  as  my  eye  fell  on  the 
already  guttering  candle,  which  would  last  barely 
twenty  minutes  longer,  it  being  but  an  end  when 
set  on  the  floor.  I  acted  at  once. 

Getting  down  on  all  fours,  I  pushed  the  candle 
ahead  of  me,  moving  slowly  toward  the  waiting 
beast,  which,  at  my  first  stir,  bounded  from  one 
side  of  the  room  to  the  other,  snarling  like  a 
demon,  then  sprang  at  me  only  to  be  brought  up 
short  and  thrown  on  his  back. 

Instantly  he  repeated  the  leap  with  like  result, 
but  as  inch  by  inch  I  made  toward  him  he  no 
longer  sprang,  but  stood  with  legs  apart  and  jaws 
open  straining  at  his  chain  and  giving  voice  to 
short,  choking  barks. 

j  As  I  neared  him  I  felt  his  equal  in  brutality. 
My  excitement  was  intense,  the  hair  on  my  head 
seemed  to  stiffen,  and  had  I  his  fangs  I  would 
have  thrown  myself  on  him  then  and  there.  The 
intensity  of  the  game  I  was  playing  made  me  for 
get  all  else  for  the  moment  —  all  else  but  its  ob- 


178          THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

ject.  I  must  have  food;  for  food  men  stake  their 
lives  and  do  murder. 

Lunge  after  lunge  the  dog  made  as  very  slowly 
I  neared  him,  and  futility  changed  him  to  a  demon. 
His  great  jaws  snapped  like  a  steel  trap,  his  hair 
bristled,  his  eyes  shot  fire;  he  was  the  incarnation 
of  impotent  fury  as  he  let  out  a  bark  that  grew 
to  a  roar. 

At  last,  as  I  came  close,  then  not  being  more 
than  two  feet  from  him.  at  which  distance  I  could 
feel  his  blasting  breath,  then,  I  say,  he  stood  still, 
as  I  figured  on  his  doing,  straining  at  his  chain. 
This  was  what  I  wanted;  a  knowledge  of  the  exact 
limit  of  his  leash,  and  that  being  now  determined, 
I  went  on.  Bending  my  face  as  close  to  that  of 
the  maddened  brute  as  I  dared,  I  filled  my  lungs 
and  let  out  an  answering  roar  that  must  have  sur 
prised  him;  at  the  same  instant  I  thrust  the  lighted 
candle  into  his  gaping  mouth. 

The  plan  worked. 

Between  my  voice  and  the  flame  the  astonished 
animal  leaped  back,  his  roar  changed  to  a  quick 
yelp  as  the  fire  bit  into  his  flesh,  and  before  he 
could  recover  himself  I  had  reached  for  and 
seized  the  strap  of  the  haversack  and  regained 
my  position  beyond  the  line  of  danger. 

But  now  I  was  in  utter  darkness,  the  candle  be 
ing  extinguished;  and  the  din  raised  by  the  mad 
dened  animal  was  bewildering.  I  felt  shaken  by 
the  racket  on  top  of  my  experience,  though  not  to 


THE  HOUND  179 

the  extent  that  prevented  my  doing  full  justice  to 
the  ration.  It  was  plain  enough  and  there  was 
none  too  much  of  it,  but  I  felt  wonderfully 
strengthened,  albeit  I  was  thirsty. 

If  the  noise  made  by  the  hound  was  heard  by 
others  it  had  no  effect  of  which  I  was  conscious. 
No  one  came  near  me,  and  I  had  reason  to  believe 
that  the  sergeant  would  see  to  it  that  no  one  should 
come. 

It  was  not  until  I  had  finished  eating  and  lay 
down  on  the  boards,  that  the  brute  ceased  to  give 
voice.  So  long  as  I  remained  perfectly  quiet  he 
did  the  same,  but  at  my  slightest  move  there  came 
a  deep-throated,  menacing  growl,  and  if  I  sat  up, 
as  I  once  did,  the  cursed  hound  roared  a  protest 
and  tried  to  get  at  me.  Twice  I  heard  an  omi 
nous  crack  of  the  wood  to  which  he  was  fastened. 
If  it  should  give  way  under  the  continued  strain 
I  were  a  doomed  man. 

I  lay  quiet  and  finally  slept,  worn  out  with 
fatigue,  and  when  I  awoke  day  was  dawning. 
Now  I  could  see  beyond  the  window,  and  marked 
the  iron  hook  on  the  end  of  the  beam  as  it  stood 
against  the  pale  blue  of  the  sky. 

I  sat  up,  and  with  my  movement  the  hound 
again  leaped  for  me  with  mighty  force;  and  then, 
to  my  consternation,  I  saw  that  the  unusual  strain 
had  loosened  the  worn  casing  and  part  of  it  had 
been  pulled  an  inch  or  two  from  the  brickwork. 
As  I  marked  it  it  bulged  frightfully,  and  I  saw 


i8o         THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

that  but  a  little  greater  force,  or  the  same  longer 
continued,  would  tear  the  casing  completely  away. 

As  I  realized  this  the  perspiration  started  from 
my  every  pore.  It  was  not  death  itself  I  feared, 
but  the  threatened  manner  of  it  was  abhorrent. 
And  it  would  be  a  triumph  for  Brussel.  I  could 
see  the  grin  on  his  face  when  he  learned  he  had 
been  relieved  of  me  — by  an  accident. 

And  the  girl? 

The  thought  of  her  steadied  me,  and  within  me 
there  came  a  quick  longing  to  see  her  if  only  to  ex 
plain  my  seeming  neglect  of  her.  What  this 
thought  of  her  meant  to  me  I  was  too  great  a  fool 
to  understand,  nor  was  I  in  an  analytical  mood  at 
that  time.  The  present  absorbed  me. 

How  could  I  escape  this  new  peril?  In  the 
room  there  was  but  one  spot  beyond  the  dog's 
reach,  once  he  was  free,  and  that  —  the  beam 
above  my  head.  I  looked  up  at  it.  It  was  well 
beyond  my  grasp,  even  at  a  jump,  though  could  I 
but  get  my  fingers  over  its  edge  I  might  soon 
swarm  into  the  two  feet  of  space  between  it  and 
the  roof.  There  would  be  safety  for  a  time. 

The  solution  of  the  difficulty  came  to  me  as  read 
ily  as  the  way  to  obtain  the  haversack,  and  that 
was  through  the  haversack  itself.  It  took  me  but 
a  moment  to  unbuckle  the  strap,  which  was  stout 
and  could  have  held  the  weight  of  four  men;  then 
I  threw  it  over  the  beam  and  rebuckled  it.  Here, 
then,  was  a  sling  which  would  serve  me,  and  in  a 


THE  HOUND  181 

moment  more  I  was  up  and  lying  along  the  length 
of  the  great  stick,  it  being  fourteen  or  fifteen 
inches  wide,  while  the  infuriated  beast  roared  like 
a  devil  in  pain  as  he  saw  me  perched  above  him. 
I  laughed  then,  but  it  was  not  the  laughter  of  mirth 
or  pleasure. 

Working  myself  along  the  beam  until  I  came 
to  the  window  I  looked  out.  The  view  opened 
over  a  court  surrounded  by  the  building  in  which 
I  was  confined.  As  I  had  suspected,  I  was  on  the 
top  floor,  and  a  single  glance  told  me  that  even 
were  I  free  of  the  menace  of  the  hound  I  could 
not  escape  by  way  of  the  window.  There  was  no 
rope  pendent  from  the  hook,  and  the  stone-paved 
yard  was  at  least  forty  feet  below. 

It  was  then  about  half-past  four  o'clock,  as  I 
figured.  Above  the  adjoining  roofs  I  caught  a 
glimpse  of  the  far  reaches  of  the  bay,  pearly  in  the 
growing  light.  The  sight  set  me  wild  for  free 
dom,  and  wilder  when  I  considered  that  not  a  soul 
save  my  enemies  knew  of  my  condition  or  where 
abouts,  and  perhaps  never  would  know. 

I  was  safe  for  a  time,  but  for  how  long  a  time? 
Must  I  lie  on  a  narrow  beam  (for  the  dog  would 
soon  tear  himself  loose)  until  hunger  compelled 
me  to  gnaw  the  leather  of  the  strap  or  thirst  drive 
me  to  delirium?  It  was  a  hopeless  outlook,  and 
in  my  despair  I  brought  my  hand  to  my  head. 

The  movement  had  dislodged  the  haversack  I 
had  drawn  up  after  me,  and  it  fell  from  the  beam; 


182          THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

but  before  it  reached  the  floor  I  had  caught  the 
end  of  the  strap  and  for  an  instant  the  bag  hung 
swinging  near  the  hound. 

As  I  drew  it  up  the  devil  flew  for  it,  just  missing 
it,  but  his  projected  weight  was  too  much  for  the 
weakened  woodwork;  the  length  of  the  casing 
tore  away  with  a  ripping  crash,  and  the  hound, 
now  only  fettered  by  the  long  stick,  leaped  into  the 
air  in  frantic  efforts  to  reach  me. 

But  I  soon  discovered  that  by  remaining  per 
fectly  quiet  the  beast  would  be  less  violent,  only 
sitting  on  his  haunches  and  eying  me  with  an  in 
flamed  look  and  giving  voice  to  deep-chested 
growls;  and,  therefore,  to  save  my  nerves  I  moved 
no  more  than  was  necessary  to  fill  and  light  my 
pipe,  for  of  the  smoker's  outfit  I  had  not 
been  rifled,  and  tobacco  is  a  solace  for  the  man 
of  clean  conscience,  be  his  condition  what  it 
may. 

As  I  smoked  I  thought,  and  even  thought  of 
escape.  Ay,  treed  though  I  was,  and  apparently 
without  a  chance,  my  wits  dwelt  on  possibilities. 
If  the  cursed  demon  of  a  hound  were  out  of  the 
way  I  might  — 

Ha!  I  had  it  —  possibly!  It  were  well  worth 
the  experiment,  and  should  it  fail  I  would  be  none 
the  worse  off.  If  the  menacing  animal  had  the 
temper  and  tenacity  of  purpose  of  the  bulldog  he 
resembled  in  all  but  size  the  idea  that  leaped  to 
my  brain  might  enable  me  to  be  rid  of  the  monster. 


THE  HOUND  183 

After  that  perhaps  the  Almighty  would  further 
direct  me. 

I  put  the  matter  to  the  test  at  once.  Passing 
one  end  of  the  strap  of  the  haversack  around  the 
beam  I  buckled  it  firmly  and  in  such  a  way  as  to 
permit  the  heavy  brown  canvas  bag  to  hang  free 
when  I  should  be  ready  to  drop  it. 

With  my  first  move  the  animal  awoke  into  his 
old  fury,  and  standing  directly  beneath  me,  howled 
out  an  invitation  to  come  down,  his  red  throat  and 
open  jaws  dripping  thick  froth.  I  cursed  the 
vicious  brute  roundly,  and  when  his  rage  was  at  its 
height  I  dropped  the  bag. 

As  if  the  canvas  were  a  part  of  my  own  body 
the  beast  flew  at  it,  his  jaws  closing  on  the  stout 
fabric  with  more  than  a  vicious  snap.  Its  height 
from  the  floor  brought  the  animal  to  his  hind  legs, 
but  he  jerked  at  the  haversack  and  shook  the  thing 
until  I  feared  that  the  strap  would  give  way. 
Thank  God,  it  did  not. 

I  pulled  at  it,  screaming  and  snarling  that  I 
might  further  madden  the  brute,  and  then,  when  I 
had  wrought  his  anger  to  a  pitch  that  made  him  a 
fearful  object  even  to  look  at,  I  locked  my  legs 
fast  around  the  beam  and  reaching  down  as  far  as 
possible,  grasped  the  strap  a  foot  above  the  ani 
mal's  gleaming  teeth,  and  fairly  lifted  him  from 
the  floor. 

As  his  full  weight  came  upon  his  jaws  I  feared 
that  he  would  either  loosen  his  grip  or  that  the  can- 


1 84         THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

vas  would  tear  from  his  hold;  but  neither  hap 
pened,  the  canvas  being  new  and  heavy,  and  as 
for  his  jaws,  I  doubt  if  they  could  have  been  pried 
apart  with  an  iron  bar.  He  held  on. 

I  put  all  my  muscle  to  him  then,  though  in  my 
position  it  was  an  awful  tug  to  draw  him  higher. 
Inch  by  inch  I  hauled  him,  clamping  the  slack  of 
the  strap  round  the  beam,  while  the  brute,  true  to 
his  stubborn  breed,  held  his  jaws  like  a  vise. 
Soon  I  was  able  to  reach  down  past  his  fearsome 
head  and  grasp  the  chain. 

Then  I  knew  I  would  be  successful  and  that  the 
end  was  at  hand.  Still  holding  him  with  the 
clamped  strap  in  my  left  hand  I  wound  the  chain 
around  the  beam,  and  when  I  felt  it  was  secure  I 
let  the  strap  go. 

The  result  was  what  I  had  looked  for;  the  jerk 
of  the  heavy  body  tore  the  animal's  teeth  through 
the  haversack,  and  he  was  swinging  by  his  stout 
brass-studded  collar.  If  that  did  not  give  way  he 
would  soon  choke  to  death. 

His  struggles  were  now  fearful.  The  beam, 
stout  as  it  was,  trembled  under  his  violent  con 
vulsions.  I  thought  something  would  surely  part 
and  free  him,  but  the  collar  was  strong  and  its  grip 
on  the  brawny  throat  shut  off  the  brute's  voice  and 
breath,  and  in  a  few  minutes  his  frantic  struggles 
began  to  grow  less,  though  it  was  probably  ten 
minutes  ere  he  ceased  to  kick,  and  hung  a  limp 
length,  his  hind  legs  almost  touching  the  floor. 


THE  HOUND  185, 

The  fluttering  sigh  I  gave  was  a  prayer,  if  ever 
there  was  one,  a  prayer  of  thankfulness,  though  I 
did  not  see  how  I  had  advanced  myself  save  to 
have  room  in  which  to  move. 

I  worked  myself  again  to  the  window  with  the 
intention  of  kicking  out  the  glass  to  obtain  much- 
needed  ventilation,  and  had  raised  my  foot  when 
I  saw  a  soldier  come  from  the  opposite  archway 
and  cross  the  court  toward  that  portion  of  the 
building  where  I  was  confined.  I  did  not  have  to 
guess  at  his  identity.  He  was  the  sergeant, 
dressed  as  if  for  a  march,  from  knapsack  to  mus 
ket.  He  looked  up  at  my  window  as  he  walked, 
but  the  dirty  panes  prevented  his  seeing  me,  and 
he  passed  on  as  if  in  a  hurry. 

Then  the  thought  came  to  me  that  he  was  com 
ing  to  investigate  my  condition,  and  I  knew,  too, 
what  could  be  the  result  of  his  discovery.  My 
heart  gave  a  prodigious  bound,  and  at  that  mo 
ment  I  became  more  dangerous  than  an  unthinking 
hound,  be  its  disposition  what  it  might. 

The  man  was  alone,  and  being  alone  I  knew 
that  the  supreme  moment  of  my  life  was  at  hand. 
He  would  soon  be  with  me,  and  when  he  entered 
that  room  I  would  leave  it  before  him  or  die  at 
tempting  it. 

With  that  determination  I  dropped  to  the  floor. 


CHAPTER  XVII 

THE    PASSING   OF   o'HARA 

MY  plan,  though  decidedly  desperate,  was 
as  natural  and  simple  as  it  was  lacking  in 
originality.  It  was  to  secure  that  por 
tion  of  the  casing  which  had  been  torn  away  by  the 
hound,  and  was  still  attached  to  his  chain,  and 
using  it  as  a  club,  attack  the  sergeant  when  he  en 
tered  the  room.  As  he  believed  me  to  be  un 
armed  he  would  not  have  provided  against  sur 
prise. 

But  at  the  very  beginning  of  my  efforts  I  saw 
how  futile  had  been  my  hope  of  obtaining  the  stick 
as  a  weapon;  for,  in  the  first  place,  I  could  not  free 
it  from  the  chain;  in  the  second,  it  was  too  long  to 
be  used  effectively;  and,  in  the  third,  it  being  either 
of  oak  or  ash,  I  could  not  shorten  it  by  breaking 
off  a  sufficient  length. 

I  know  I  worked  feverishly  over  it,  trying  to 
rend  it  across  my  knee;  but  the  tough  wood  re 
sisted  my  every  effort,  and  I  was  in  a  desperate 
state  as  I  heard  the  heavy-footed  soldier  ascend 
ing  the  stairs.  In  ten  seconds  he  would  be  at  the 
door,  he  would  unlock  it,  and,  seeing  the  situation, 

186 


THE  PASSING  OF  O'HARA        187 

either  proceed  to  make  short  work  of  me  with  his 
musket  or  lock  me  in  until  his  brain  could  devise 
some  other  scheme  to  get  rid  of  me. 

But  there  was  no  question  as  to  what  lay  with 
me  to  do.  Armed  or  unarmed,  when  he  entered 
the  room  I  must  close  with  him  and  take  all 
chances.  My  fear  was  that  he  would  open  the 
door  but  far  enough  for  a  tentative  look,  and  see 
ing  me  alive  would  immediately  close  it.  His 
footsteps  were  already  advancing  along  the  hall 
while  I  was  still  trying  to  break  the  stick;  ay, 
before  I  desisted  I  heard  him  place  the  key  in  the 
lock,  and  with  a  feeling  of  something  like  despair 
I  softly  laid  down  the  useless  wood  and  as  softly 
sprang  to  the  door  just  as  the  rusty  wards  grated. 

With  the  intuitive  desire  to  get  a  moment  in 
which  to  think,  I  placed  my  foot  against  the  lower 
panel  of  the  door  that  it  might  not  open  easily. 
That  it  swung  inward  was  providential  for  me. 

My  sole  idea  was  to  resist  pressure  from  the 
outside  until  the  sergeant  should  become  impatient 
or  would  wonder  what  had  happened  within.  In 
either  case  he  would  exert  himself  to  push  open 
the  door,  and  when  he  should  have  put  sufficient 
weight  against  it  I  would  suddenly  remove  my 
foot.  I  hoped  the  result  would  be  that  he  would 
bolt  into  the  room  with  more  or  less  precipitation. 

For  the  rest  my  skill  as  a  wrestler  would  have 
to  serve  me. 

When  a  man  is  in  as  precarious  a  situation  as  I 


1 88          THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

was,  if  he  be  normal,  his  every  sense  is  quickened 
and  his  brain  works  with  unusual  speed.  As  I 
placed  my  heavy  shoe  against  the  door  I  had  out 
lined  what  I  hoped  to  do,  and,  if  my  wits  did  not 
become  paralyzed,  I  had  reason  to  think  I  had  a 
chance  to  win. 

And,  too,  I  had  reason  to  think  that  my  place 
of  imprisonment  was  unknown  to  many,  perhaps 
to  any  save  the  sergeant  and  Brussel,  for  surely 
the  motive  which  had  resulted  in  my  being  placed 
within  reach  of  a  savage  dog  would  not  be  bruited 
abroad. 

Therefore,  the  sergeant  would  not  depend  upon 
the  help  of  another,  even  though  he  became  sus 
picious  of  the  condition  of  things  within  the  room; 
and  it  was  this  certainty  which  gave  me  confidence. 
He  would  be  alone,  and  I  would  have  but  a  single 
man  with  whom  to  deal;  certainly  no  one  was  with 
him  when  he  crossed  the  court,  and  in  the  hall  I 
heard  no  step  but  his.  I  had  been  careful  to  make 
no  noise,  and  if  my  silence  should  cause  the  man 
outside  to  think  me  dead,  so  much  the  better;  he 
would  be  less  guarded  in  his  movements. 

And  it  was  evident  that  some  such  matter 
crossed  his  brain,  as  he  no  sooner  tried  the  door 
after  unlocking  it,  than,  finding  his  entry  blocked 
by  some  obstruction,  he  knocked  on  the  thick  panel, 
at  first  softly,  then  louder  as  he  called  my  name. 

In  the  meantime  I  was  stripping  off  my  coat  and 
rolling  up  my  ragged  shirt-sleeves.  My  intensity, 


THE  PASSING  OF  O'HARA        189 

or  tension,  was  great;  indeed,  at  that  moment,  was 
so  great  that  the  sensation  of  fear  was  lost,  and 
later  I  found  I  had  set  my  teeth  into  my  lip  until 
it  bled. 

As  a  profound  silence  was  the  only  answer  to 
his  knocking  and  the  call  of  my  name,  the  sergeant 
shook  the  door,  then  I  heard  him  mutter  some 
thing  as  he  gave  it  a  hard  push.  The  door  still 
resisting,  he  set  his  musket  against  the  wall,  for  as 
plainly  as  if  it  were  within  the  room  I  heard  the 
bang  of  the  stock  on  the  floor;  then  the  man  put 
his  weight  against  the  panels. 

The  upper  portion  of  the  door  sprung  under  the 
pressure,  but  the  bottom  still  hung,  held  fast  by 
the  brace  of  my  foot.  To  him  it  was  evident  that 
something,  probably  my  dead  body,  lay  against  the 
door,  for  with  an  outspoken  imprecation  the  man 
set  his  shoulder  against  it  and  heaved. 

I  could  not  have  held  against  him  if  I  had 
wished  to,  and  as  I  felt  my  heel  slip  I  knew  the 
decisive  moment  had  arrived.  Quickly  withdraw 
ing  my  foot,  I  jumped  aside. 

The  result  was  all  I  could  have  wished.  As 
though  shot  from  a  catapult  the  man  plunged  into 
the  room,  losing  his  balance  and  almost  going  to 
the  floor,  the  door  crashing  against  the  wall,  and 
before  he  could  recover  himself  I  was  upon  him. 
Catching  him  from  the  side  and  just  beneath  his 
heavy  knapsack,  I  twisted  my  leg  round  his  and 
brought  him  to  the  floor  with  a  bang  that  shook 


1 90          THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

the  old  beams  beneath  it;  the  next  moment  I  was 
astride  of  his  body  as  I  had  once  been  astride  of 
his  master,  Brussel,  and  now  there  was  no  one  to 
interfere  with  me. 

The  sergeant  had  given  one  quick  cry  as  I 
wound  my  arms  round  him,  but  that  was  all;  be 
fore  he  could  have  a  realizing  sense  of  the  con 
ditions  within  the  room  I  had  him  down,  had  his 
head  bent  backward  over  the  roll  topping  his  knap 
sack,  and,  with  my  two  hands  gripping  his  throat, 
had  shut  off  his  wind. 

Had  he  not  been  handicapped  by  his  knapsack 
the  contest  would  have  been  a  harder  one  for  me; 
but  the  great  bulk  on  his  back  not  only  trammeled 
him,  but  it  made  a  point  over  which  to  bend  his 
thick  neck,  and,  throwing  my  weight  on  him,  I 
forced  his  head  back  against  the  floor. 

Heavens,  how  he  struggled !  Despite  the  treat 
ment  received  from  him,  despite  his  heartlessness, 
I  had  to  stifle  my  own  sense  of  pity  for  the  fellow 
as  he  writhed  in  physical  and  perhaps  mental 
agony.  How  he  grasped  my  wrists  and  tried  to 
tear  me  from  my  hold !  His  great  legs  thrashed 
the  floor,  his  body  contorting  in  his  efforts  to  un 
seat  me,  and  had  I  been  in  less  peril  he  might  have 
freed  himself. 

But  I  was  fighting  for  my  life,  and  was  strength 
ened  by  the  sense  of  my  wrongs.  I  drove  pity 
from  me,  sending  it  to  the  winds  in  the  curse  I  gave 
the  fellow  under  me.  My  hands  were  like  iron, 


THE  PASSING  OF  O'HARA        191 

my  wrists  were  steel  bolts,  and,  no  matter  how  he 
twisted  and  thrashed,  my  knees  bit  into  his  sides 
and  I  held  my  place  astride  of  him. 

It  was  not  until  his  light-blue  eyes  were  fairly 
starting  from  his  head  that  he  gave  over  strug 
gling  and  threw  up  his  hands  in  token  of  surren 
der;  but  I  could  not  afford  to  be  generous. 
Though  I  had  no  intention  of  killing  him,  I  did  not 
dare  reduce  the  pressure.  What  would  his  sur 
render  mean  to  me?  Nothing  but  a  continuance 
of  my  peril.  If  I  locked  him  in  the  room  ere  I 
had  rendered  him  entirely  helpless  it  would  be  but 
a  few  moments  before  he  would  have  the  window 
smashed  and  his  voice  bellowing  an  alarm.  Nay, 
I  dared  not  let  him  go. 

With  the  falling  of  his  arms  his  tense  muscles 
relaxed  and  his  face  grew  dark  with  settled  blood, 
and  then  I  knew  he  was  too  far  gone  or  even  to 
help  himself  for  a  time,  and  so  I  let  go  my  hold 
and  got  from  his  body.  He  was  not  dead,  for  his 
chest  still  heaved;  but  he  was  totally  unconscious, 
though  how  long  he  would  remain  so  I  had  no 
idea,  and  my  ignorance  hurried  my  movements. 
If  he  was  to  recover  it  was  certain  that  I  could  not 
leave  the  man  lying  where  he  was  and  hope  for 
much  time  in  which  to  escape.  That  he  would  be 
searched  for  sooner  or  later  I  knew,  and  that  ulti 
mately  he  would  be  discovered  I  was  also  aware; 
but  by  then  I  hoped  to  be  in  some  safer  place  than 
the  heart  of  Boston.  All  I  could  now  do  was  to 


i92         THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

delay  his  rescue,  and  as  I  stood  looking  down  on 
him  an  easy  way  presented  itself. 

Quickly  climbing  to  the  beam,  I  unwound  the 
chain  and  lowered  the  dead  hound  to  the  floor, 
then  with  the  strap  of  the  haversack  I  bound  the 
unconscious  man's  hands,  after  which  I  dragged 
the  dog  close  to  the  sergeant's  body  and  wrapped 
the  chain  about  hound  and  man,  fastening  the 
links  by  locking  them  with  the  stick.  Thus  the 
two  were  held  close  together,  and  when  the  soldier 
recovered  he  would  find  himself  so  bound  to  the 
dead  brute  as  to  be  helpless  to  more  than  move. 
For  the  time  taken  and  the  means  at  hand  my  work 
was  very  complete. 

After  that  I  had  no  preparations  to  make. 
Without  a  regret  for  what  I  had  done  I  went  into 
the  hall,  locking  the  door  behind  me  and  taking 
the  key,  which  I  afterward  threw  down  a  well. 

The  sergeant's  musket  stood  where  he  had 
placed  it,  and,  though  I  looked  at  it  envyingly,  I 
knew  its  possession  would  be  a  source  of  danger; 
therefore,  I  only  unfixed  the  bayonet  and  hid  the 
bright  steel  in  my  sleeve,  leaving  the  firearm  where 
it  was.  Then  I  went  down-stairs. 

While  I  remained  in  the  upper  part  of  the  great 
building  I  felt  safe  enough;  for  in  many  of  the 
empty  rooms,  as  I  soon  discovered,  no  human  be 
ing  had  set  foot  since  shortly  after  the  embargo 
was  declared,  the  dust-covered  and  untracked 
floors  showing  how  deserted  they  were.  Every 


THE  PASSING  OF  O'HARA        193 

bale,  barrel  and  box  had  long  since  been  removed; 
the  rooms  were  empty  of  everything  save  dust  and 
flies. 

There  were  several  reasons  why  I  could  not  re 
main  hidden  in  the  old  warehouse,  be  it  ever  so 
safe  a  refuge,  and  one  reason  was  enough:  I  must 
have  food  and  drink,  especially  the  latter,  as  I 
was  wild  with  thirst. 

But  there  was  no  question  with  me  as  to  where 
to  go;  I  knew  my  destination  well  enough;  it  was 
Dench's  house.  There  I  would  obtain  food  and 
drink,  and  there  I  would  take  command  of  the 
man  whose  treacherous  blow  had  floated  me  on  a 
sea  of  trouble. 

Nor  was  that  all,  for  possibly  Louise  Selden 
had  been  returned  to  him;  and,  too,  it  was  even 
possible  that  Larry  Hotfoot  was  with  his  uncle. 
So  I  possessed  every  incentive  to  go  back  to  the 
scene  of  my  first  misfortune,  and  was  in  fair  shape 
to  make  the  passage,  for  I  was  desperate  from 
lack  of  nourishment,  desperate  from  suffering,  and 
desperately  intent  on  what  most  men  would  call 
revenge,  but  which  I  called  punishment. 

And  my  way  seemed  so  smooth  that  it  argued 
good  fortune  for  the  future;  for  by  the  sheerest 
accident  I  stumbled  on  a  flight  of  stairs  which  led 
me  to  the  rear  of  the  building  instead  of  the  front, 
and  there  I  came  upon  an  unlocked  door  which 
opened  upon  a  deserted  alley,  which  alley  de 
bouched  into  a  back  street.  It  was  eight  o'clock 


i94          THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

by  then,  and  I  stepped  into  the  early  sunshine  with 
that  appreciation  of  freedom  which  only  the  lately 
imprisoned  can  realize.  Hardly  more  than  an 
hour  before  I  had  been  well-nigh  hopeless;  since 
then  I  had  passed  through  deep  waters,  and  I  did 
not  foresee  that  even  deeper  lay  before  me. 

The  night  patrol  had  been  withdrawn,  and  there 
was  no  guard  to  challenge  me,  while  the  few  citi 
zens  I  met  gave  me  but  passing  attention,  and 
that,  probably,  owing  to  my  shabbiness.  Yet, 
though  I  was  unkempt  enough,  I  was  not  in  a  state 
to  demand  interference;  no  one,  not  of  the  mili 
tary  dared  go  in  a  rich  dress  in  those  times;  it 
would  have  marked  him  for  destruction  by  the 
mob  or  by  the  authorities. 

Walking  openly,  yet  with  eyes  and  ears  alert, 
I  went  through  street  after  street  until,  after 
a  tiresome  trudge,  I  came  to  a  halt  on  the  highway 
in  the  rear  of  Dench's  house.  The  surroundings 
were  changed,  having  lost  their  trim  appearance; 
and  I  noticed  that  the  near-by  houses  were  closed, 
and  before  one  the  lawn  was  strewn  with  debris 
which  spoke  of  mob-law  and  loot. 

I  did  not  dare  to  halt  for  long  nor  act  in  any 
way  to  excite  suspicion;  so,  going  to  the  high 
board  fence,  I  discovered  the  gate  unfastened, 
and  in  a  moment  found  myself  within  the  lawyer's 
yard. 

Here  I  looked  about.  The  ditch  was  still  open, 
but  the  hole  in  the  wall  at  the  end  of  it  —  the  hole 


THE  PASSING  OF  O'HARA        195 

through  which  I  had  escaped  some  six  weeks  be 
fore  —  was  closed  by  a  heap  of  loose  stones,  no 
effort  having  been  made  to  rebuild  the  founda 
tion.  I  did  not  attempt  to  conceal  myself,  being 
fairly  sure  I  would  not  be  recognized  if  seen;  there 
fore,  I  went  openly  to  the  well  and  slaked  my  con 
suming  thirst,  after  which  I  felt  like  a  man,  and 
then  went  straight  to  the  back  door. 

It  was  not  fastened.  Pushing  it  open,  I  en 
tered  the  passage  which  I  guessed  would  lead  to 
the  kitchen,  and  I  was  right,  for  upon  opening  the 
door  at  its  end  I  saw  the  giant  negress,  Letty, 
bending  over  the  fire. 

As  she  heard  the  door  close  behind  me  she 
turned  and  looked,  then  threw  her  hands  above 
her  head  and  let  out  a  bubbling  cry  of  horror. 

I  was  at  her  side  in  an  instant,  and  clapped  my 
hand  over  her  open  mouth. 

"  For  Heaven's  sake,  hush!  Do  you  wish  to 
ruin  me  after  having  saved  me?"  I  cried,  in  a 
strident  whisper. 

"  Fo'  de  Lawd!  "  she  gasped,  looking  at  me  in 
wide-eyed  wonder.  "  Dey  tole  me  yo'  was 
daid !  I  'lows  yo'  was  yo'  ghos'." 

I  quieted  her  fears  by  assuring  her  I  was  no 
ghost,  nor  even  dead,  and  when  I  made  sure  that 
her  cry  had  disturbed  no  one  I  started  in  on  the 
business  that  brought  me. 

"  Letty,"  said  I,  "  you  saved  my  life  once,  now 
you  must  help  me  again.  Will  you  stand  by  me  ?  " 


196          THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

"  Ah  wants  to  know  about  mah  brudder 
George,"  she  answered,  as  if  unwilling  to  commit 
herself. 

"  He's  a  hero.  He  escaped,  but  I  have  not 
seen  him.  He  shall  not  suffer  for  his  kindness, 
nor  shall  you." 

"  What  yo'  goin'  to  do?  "  she  asked. 

"  Never  mind,"  I  returned.  "  Who  is  in  the 
house  up-stairs?  " 

"  Mas'  Dench,"  she  answered,  looking  at  me 
with  more  confidence. 

"  Where  is  Captain  Brussel?  " 

"  Fo'  de  Lawd,  I  dunno,  sah!"  she  said. 
"  He  ain't  here." 

"Is  Dench  alone?" 

"  No,  sah.  He  got  a  man  wif  him.  He  here 
all  night." 

"  Who?  a  military  man  —  a  soldier?" 

"No,  sah;  'tain't  no  sojer;  jes'  a  plain  little 
man  wif  black  eyes  an'  a  sharp  nose.  He  stay  to 
brekfus." 

I  wondered  who  this  could  be,  but  as  it  was  evi 
dently  some  civilian  it  did  not  much  matter  to  me 
save  that  his  presence  might  delay  my  revenge.     I 
sniffed  at  the  appetizing  odor  of  cooking,  and  for  ~+ 
a  moment  forgot  my  errand. 

"  And  this  is  their  breakfast,  I  take  it,"  I  said, 
stepping  to  the  hearth  and  picking  up  the  frying- 
pan.  "  They  may  wait  for  it.  My  need  is 
greater  than  theirs."  And  with  that  I  began  to 


THE  PASSING  OF  O'HARA        197 

eat  with  my  fingers,  man  being  demoralized  by 
hunger.  The  woman  ran  toward  me  with  a  cry 
of  consternation,  and  attempted  to  take  the  pan 
from  me,  at  which  the  brute  in  me  leaped  to  the 
surface  and  for  the  once  I  was  like  any  other  ani 
mal  with  its  food  supply  threatened.  Drawing 
my  bayonet  from  my  sleeve,  I  turned  the  point 
on  the  negress.  "  Letty,  I  am  hungry,"  I  said. 
"  I  am  even  starving,  and  am  going  to  eat  while 
I  may.  Do  not  try  to  prevent  me  or  I  may  forget 
what  I  owe  you." 

"  No,  sah,"  she  said;  "  'tain't  that,  but  the  ole 
man  has  knocked  fo'  brekfus',  an'  if  he  doan  get 
it  pretty  quick  he'll  be  down  an'  pull  mah  hair. 
An'  he'll  see  yo',  an'—" 

"  He'll  be  sorry  he  ever  did,"  I  interrupted,  con 
tinuing  to  punish  the  contents  of  the  pan.  "  If 
he  knocks  again  I  will  answer  his  call,  and  after 
seeing  me  he  will  have  no  appetite.  Now,  tell  me 
what  has  happened  since  I  left." 

"  Heaps  an'  heaps,  sah." 

"  Did  Miss  Selden  return  here?  " 

At  my  question  of  the  woman,  giantess  though 
she  was,  she  broke  down  and  cried  like  a  baby; 
and  I,  who  had  been  ravenously  devouring  the 
lawyer's  breakfast,  stood  and  looked  at  her  in 
amazement. 

"  What  has  happened?  "  I  finally  asked,  and  I 
confess  that  I  was  afraid  of  what  her  answer 
might  be. 


CHAPTER  XVIII 

JUDGE   EVERS   REDIVIVUS 

AT  length  I  got  her  story. 
Part  of  it  was  as  I  had  surmised;  the 
girl  had  been  returned  to  Dench,  but  that 
which  followed  made  my  blood  boil.  There  had 
been  a  fearful  time  when  my  escape  and  the  flight 
of  Louise  had  been  discovered,  though  at  first 
it  was  not  thought  we  had  gone  together.  In 
fear  of  his  life  —  not  knowing  but  I  might  be  hid 
ing  near  —  Dench  had  barricaded  his  house,  and 
between  nephew  and  uncle  there  had  been  a  violent 
scene. 

However,  as  later  I  was  pronounced  drowned, 
and  Louise  was  sent  back  to  the  care  of  her 
guardian  by  the  authorities,  matters  went  on 
quietly  enough  for  a  time,  Brussel  being  away 
on  continuous  duty;  but  after  Bunker  Hill  Brussel 
returned  to  the  house  to  remain  until  his  wound 
should  heal. 

The  negress  never  spoke  to  him,  nor  was  she  al 
lowed  to  communicate  with  Louise,  who  was  con 
fined  to  her  room,  a  practical  prisoner.  Then 
there  was  much  going  to  and  fro  of  messengers; 
and  only  two  days  before,  late  in  the  night,  a  coach 

198 


JUDGE  EVERS  REDIVIVUS        199 

had  been  driven  to  the  house,  and  a  soldier  —  it 
must  have  been  my  enemy,  the  sergeant  —  by  Let- 
ty's  description  —  got  out  of  it,  went  into  the 
house  and  up-stairs,  and  Letty  heard  him  talk 
ing  with  Brussel. 

The  next  the  negress  knew  was  that  Louise 
screamed,  and  shortly  after  the  young  girl  was 
carried  down-stairs  in  the  arms  of  the  soldier  and 
placed  in  the  waiting  coach,  she  being  apparently 
unconscious.  When  Brussel  followed  the  coach 
was  driven  away.  Letty  had  not  seen  the  officer 
since  that  night,  and  knew  nothing  of  the  fate  of 
the  girl. 

"  And  was  Dench  a  party  to  this  outrage?  "  I 
asked,  my  teeth  gritting  as  I  pictured  the  helpless 
lady  in  the  villain's  power. 

"No,  sah  —  no,  sah,"  answered  the  woman. 
"  Mas'  Dench  wa'n't  to  home  dat  night.  I  hears 
him  an'  Mas'  Brussel  quoilin'  'bout  Miss  Louise 
de  night  befo'  an' —  oh,  Lawd!  " 

The  exclamation  was  drawn  from  her  by  a  series 
of  heavy  thumps  on  the  floor  overhead. 

"Is  that  Dench?"  I  asked,  setting  down  the 
now  empty  pan  and  wiping  my  lips. 

"Yes,  sah— yes,  sah!  What'll  Ah  do? 
He'll  jest  nachully  lam  me  wif  his  tongue,  an'  den 
he  fin'  out  what  come  of — " 

"  Never  mind,  Letty,"  I  said,  going  to  the  door. 
"  Show  me  the  way  up  to  him,  and  I'll  give  you  my 
word  he  will  not  hold  you  accountable." 


2OO 

At  that  moment  there  came  a  series  of  thumps 
on  the  floor  overhead.  "  Where  are  you  going?  " 
I  demanded  as  the  negress  ran  past  me. 

"  Gwine  to  tell  him  he's  bleeged  to  wait,"  she 
said. 

"  You'll  stay  where  you  are,"   I   commanded. 
"  Does  that  door  open  to  the  stairs?  " 
'  Yes,  sah,"  said  the  negress. 
'  Then  I  will  take  your  place.     Busy  yourself 
cooking  another  breakfast;   I  will  need  it  very 


soon." 


And  so,  without  further  preparation,  I  went  up 
stairs  just  as  I  was.  I  was  not  familiar  with  the 
lower  part  of  the  house,  saving  the  cell;  but,  be 
lieving  the  lawyer  was  in  the  dining-room,  which 
was  over  the  kitchen,  I  made  my  way  to  it  by 
instinct.  When  I  came  to  the  dining-room  I  saw 
that  the  door  was  on  a  jar,  and  now,  with  a  knowl 
edge  that  the  old  lawyer  had  some  one  with  him, 
I  approached  cautiously,  determined  to  see  the 
stranger,  and  if  he  were  not  too  formidable  to  get 
rid  of  him  in  some  manner.  I  was  not  in  a  mind 
to  wait  too  long. 

But,  to  my  surprise,  Dench  was  not  in  the  din 
ing-room.  His  guest  sat  at  the  table  with  his  back 
toward  me,  and  even  before  I  recognized  his  face 
in  the  mirror  on  the  opposite  wall  I  saw  that, 
physically  considered,  he  would  be  as  nothing  in 
my  hands.  However,  I  forgot  that  fact  and  only 
realized  that  here  was  one  who  did  not  depend 


JUDGE  EVERS  REDIVIVUS        201 

upon  physique  for  personal  power;  for  the  face 
I  marked  in  the  glass  was  the  face  of  a  man  I  had 
outraged.  It  was  Justice  Evers. 

Now,  though  I  had  little  fear  of  being  recog 
nized  by  him,  for  my  clothes  were  in  the  last  de 
gree  of  shabbiness  and  I  had  not  shaved  since  the 
day  before  I  was  captured  on  Bunker  Hill,  I 
backed  away  with  the  instinctive  dread  of  one  who 
comes  suddenly  upon  a  venomous  snake.  I  made 
no  doubt  that  my  recent  history  had  been  retailed 
to  the  judge,  and  that,  like  Bench  himself,  he 
thought  me  either  dead  or  a  hopeless  prisoner. 
If  he  should  discover  the  contrary  it  might  come 
to  my  doing  violence  on  him,  and  I  had  no  desire 
to  injure  him  though  I  certainly  would  not  permit 
him  to  stand  between  me  and  my  determination  to 
punish  Bench.  In  any  event  Judge  Evers  was  a 
stumbling-block,  and  one  entirely  unforeseen. 

I  confess  to  being  nonplused  as  for  a  mo 
ment  I  stood  in  the  hall,  undecided  how  to  act,  yet 
knowing  action  to  be  imperative.  I  could  not 
leave  the  house  and  wander  through  the  streets 
until  such  time  as  Evers  went  away;  for  I  knew 
the  sergeant's  condition  would  soon  be  discovered 
and  I  searched  for. 

But  what  prevented  me  from  stealing  up-stairs 
and  hiding  until  Judge  Evers  had  gone?  Noth 
ing.  I  certainly  would  not  be  looked  for  in  that 
house ;  and  deeming  hiding  among  the  enemy  to  be 
the  wisest  course  I  went  up  silently,  first  slipping 


202         THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

the  shoes  from  my  feet,  and  entered  the  room  at 
the  head  of  the  stairs  —  the  room  in  which  I  had 
been  struck  down.  A  glance  showed  the  place 
had  recently  been  occupied,  for  the  bed  was  tum 
bled  and  a  portmantle  stood  on  a  chair.  Doubt 
less  Evers  had  occupied  it. 

With  my  late  habit  of  making  the  most  of  any 
thing  at  hand  I  locked  the  door,  and  seeing  my  way 
of  retreat  open  by  means  of  the  window,  I  went 
through  his  honor's  baggage.  But  I  found  noth 
ing  save  a  few  toilet  articles,  shaving  material  and 
papers  tied  with  a  string.  These  last  I  decided  to 
look  over  if  I  had  the  chance.  The  judge's  night 
cap  and  gown  were  also  in  the  bag,  and  this  sug 
gested  that  as  they  were  already  packed  his  high 
and  mightiness  expected  to  get  away  immediately 
after  breakfast;  and  that  being  so,  his  had  not 
been  a  visit  of  sociability  —  he  had  come  to  Dench 
on  business  and  not  business  of  a  legal  nature, 
there  being  no  civil  law  in  Boston  in  those  days. 

I  searched  the  room  thoroughly.  There  was 
nothing  else  there,  even  the  closet  being  absolutely 
empty;  and  so,  unfastening  the  door  and  standing 
it  half-open  that  I  might  hear  any  sound  from  be 
low,  I  waited. 

And  soon  I  heard  something.  I  knew  that 
Dench  came  into  the  lower  hall  in  a  towering  rage 
and  roared  for  Letty.  I  heard  the  black  come  up 
from  the  kitchen  and  explain  that  an  accident  —  I 
could  not  make  out  what  —  had  ruined  her  cook- 


JUDGE  EVERS  REDIVIVUS        203 

ing.  I  heard  Dench,  the  pious  Bench,  swear  at 
her  as  he  ordered  her  to  hurry  and  prepare  some 
thing  for  his  guest  —  that  for  himself  he  cared  for 
nothing.  And  then  I  heard  him  call  Evers  from 
the  dining-room,  laughingly  apologize  for  the  de 
lay,  and  they  both  went  into  the  office. 

With  a  feeling  of  satisfaction  I  tip-toed  from 
the  judge's  room,  leaving  the  coast  clear  for  his 
going,  and  went  into  the  next  chamber.  It  was  a 
small  and  perfectly  barren  apartment  —  an  un 
furnished  spare  room  —  and  there  I  waited  fur 
ther  events,  and  to  me,  keyed  as  I  was,  I  thought 
the  time  never  ending.  But  presently  I  heard  the 
men  come  up-stairs,  go  into  the  judge's  room  and 
close  the  door.  Then  it  suddenly  came  to  me  that 
from  where  I  was  there  was  no  path  for  retreat, 
and  not  caring  to  be  trapped  I  sneaked  down  the 
stairs,  now  taking  refuge  in  the  dining-room, 
knowing  that  Letty  would  soon  be  there  and  I 
wished  to  see  her. 

But  she  did  not  appear,  nor  did  any  one  else. 
After  a  while  I  heard  Dench  and  his  guest  go 
down-stairs  to  the  front  door.  They  were  evi 
dently  very  serious  and  talked  in  low  tones  and  the 
only  words  I  caught  were  the  last  spoken  as  the 
judge  shook  hands  with  Dench.  Through  the 
crack  of  the  door  I  could  see  them  both. 

"  No,  sir,  you  are  mistaken,"  said  Evers.  "  I 
have  reason  to  know  the  temper  of  those  rebels 
back  in  the  country  I  This  war  will  not  be  soon 


204         THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

over !  I  am  universally  laughed  at  for  expressing 
such  a  sentiment,  but  I  believe,  sir,  that  General 
Gage  himself  begins  to  realize  it.  And  I  am 
sorry  I  can  be  of  no  assistance  to  you,  Mr.  Dench. 
I  thank  you  for  your  hospitality,  but  not  person 
ally  knowing  the  young  man  I  cannot  conscien 
tiously  recommend  him  to  his  excellency;  and  as 
I  leave  town  this  night  I  will  be  unable  to  make 
his  acquaintance." 

'  You  leave  town !  "  exclaimed  Dench,  with  un 
feigned  surprise.     "  How?  " 

"  I  am  sorry  that  I  may  not  say,"  said  Evers, 
with  a  final  handshake.  "  His  excellency  admon 
ished  me  to  keep  the  matter  to  myself.  If  it  were 
generally  known  he  would  be  overwhelmed  with 
applications  for  like  accommodation.  Good-by, 
sir.  I  hope  to  see  you  again  in  happier  times." 

I  was  not  surprised  that  Judge  Evers  had  a 
conscience,  and  now  I  was  glad  we  had  not  met  in 
that  house.  Undoubtedly  Dench  had  asked  him 
to  do  something  for  Brussel,  a  favor  which  had 
been  refused  through  principle,  and  my  respect 
grew  for  the  justice  on  whom  I  had  once  laid 
violent  hands.  And  like  Dench,  I,  too,  wondered 
how  he  was  to  go  from  Boston  that  night.  I  knew 
later. 

Now,  being  rid  of  Judge  Evers  I  had  Dench 
to  dispose  of,  and  it  may  well  be  believed  that  in 
my  heart  I  had  neither  softness  or  respect  for  him. 
I  both  heard  and  saw  him  shuffle  along  the  hall  to 


JUDGE  EVERS  REDIVIVUS        205 

his  office,  his  head  bent  so  that  I  could  not  fairly 
see  his  face,  his  air  being  one  of  dejection  and  dis 
appointment.  He  went  into  the  room  closing  the 
door  behind  him,  and  for  a  moment  I  waited  that 
he  might  become  settled,  in  the  meanwhile  quietly 
helping  myself  from  the  food  remaining  on  the 
table.  I  heard  the  clock  strike  half-past  ten,  and 
then,  knowing  it  was  high  time  to  act,  I  left  the 
dining-room  and  started  to  reckon  with  my  treach 
erous  host. 


CHAPTER  XIX 

THE  SECRET  ROOM 

THE  office-door  was  closed,   and  locked, 
too,  as  it  did  not  give  under  my  hand. 
I  knocked  softly,  and  was  rewarded  by 
hearing  the  lawyer's  voice  as  he  called:  "  Who's 
there?" 

I  made  no  answer,  only  knocking  again,  at 
which  I  heard  him  come  toward  the  door  and  un 
lock  it,  evidently  unconscious  of  any  danger  and 
probably  thinking  it  was  Letty.  He  threw  it 
open  impatiently  and  stood  astonished  as  he  be 
held  a  man  instead  of  the  black  he  probably  ex 
pected  to  see.  For  the  space  of  perhaps  ten 
seconds  he  did  not  recognize  me,  which  was  not 
to  be  wondered  at,  nor  did  he  move.  I  made  no 
effort  to  help  him  out,  only  standing  still  and  with 
my  arms  folded,  looking  at  him  and  with  a  swift 
glance  taking  in  the  room  behind  him. 

He  was  not  dressed  for  the  day.  On  his  feet 
were  carpet-slippers,  and  his  thin  figure  was  en 
cased  in  an  old  bed-gown.  In  his  hand  was  a 
paper  he  had  evidently  been  reading  when  my 
knock  interrupted  him. 

206 


THE  SECRET  ROOM  207 

He  had  changed  since  I  had  seen  him;  he  now 
appeared  years  older  and  was  bent,  and  there  was 
that  furtive  look  in  his  eye  which  I  connected  with 
one  of  miserly  habits.  His  features  were  sharp 
ened,  and  he  had  the  appearance  of  one  who  was 
always  in  fear  of  something. 

My  gorge  rose  at  sight  of  him.  His  was  the 
treacherous  arm  that  had  struck  me  down.  It 
was  he  who  had  consigned  me  to  a  living  death  in 
the  cellar  of  his  own  house,  and  now  he  was  at 
my  mercy.  Why  should  I  not  slay  the  hoary 
villain  and  rid  the  world  of  him?  For  not  only 
to  me  had  he  been  treacherous,  but  to  his  country. 
He  was  but  a  spy  against  his  fellows.  Lord,  how 
I  hated  him! 

Repressing  my  instinct  to  close  my  grip  on  his 
scrawny  throat,  I  stepped  past  him  into  the  room, 
and,  turning,  faced  him  again,  but  not  yet  speak 
ing.  Ah,  then  he  knew  me  I  And  I  saw  he  held 
me  in  terror,  not  knowing  but  that  I  was  a  di 
sheveled  ghost.  For  suddenly  the  lines  in  his 
face  seemed  to  double  their  depth,  and  his  deep- 
set  eyes  widened  in  abject  terror.  With  a  cry 
he  staggered  back,  then  turning,  fled  to  what  I  at 
first  thought  was  a  common  door  in  the  book-lined 
wall,  and  tried  to  close  it,  though  it  was  only 
partly  shut  as  I  overtook  him,  and  grasping  him 
by  his  thin  neck,  whirled  him  into  the  center  of 
the  room.  As  he  regained  his  balance  and  leaned 
for  support  on  his  desk,  I  said: 


208          THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

"  Well,  sir,  I  am  here  I  What  have  you  to 
say  for  yourself?  " 

"  Good  God !  I  —  I  —  How  did  you  — "  he 
stammered,  and  then  stopped. 

"  It  matters  little  how  I  came  here,"  I  re 
turned;  "but  I  have  arrived  to  collect  something 
of  a  rather  large  debt  you  owe  me.  Sir,  sit  down 
in  that  chair." 

He  obeyed  meekly  enough,  and,  too,  as  though 
he  were  suddenly  too  weak  to  stand,  for  he 
fairly  fell  into  the  leather-covered  chair  at  his 
desk.  His  attitude  was  cringing;  his  face  had 
turned  yellow. 

Kill  him?  I  could  no  more  have  killed  him 
than  I  could  have  killed  anything  so  helpless  and 
abject.  Not  that  he  was  harmless  had  he  the 
chance  to  be  otherwise,  but  he  was  so  servile, 
such  a  palpable  coward,  that  I  would  not  have 
been  much  superior  to  him  had  I  laid  murderous 
hands  on  him. 

"  Are  you  alone  in  this  house?  "  I  asked.  He 
nodded,  then  became  articulate.  "  No,  Letty 
is  below." 

"  Where  is  Louise  Selden?  " 

"  I  don't  know." 

"You  do  not  know  that  she  was  abducted?" 

"  No,"  he  answered,  with  a  sidelong  glance 
at  me. 

"  You  lie !  "  I  vociferated,  moving  toward  him, 
at  which  he  threw  up  his  hands  and  exclaimed: 


THE  SECRET  ROOM  209 

"I  mean  I  did  not  know  until  she  had  gone.  I 
> —  I  really  do  not  know  where  she  is.  I  would 
not  have  harm  come  to  her." 

"You  lie  again!  "  I  said.  "You  were  ready 
to  sacrifice  her  to  that  monster,  your  nephew.  I 
heard  you  propose  her  undoing  that  you  might 
save  yourself  from  ruin.  You  are  a  snake,  and 
unfit  to  live!  Where  is  Brussel?  Do  not  pre 
tend  ignorance  to  me." 

As  a  man  of  the  world  Bench  was  a  shrewd 
one,  and  undoubtedly  he  had  read  me  sufficiently 
to  believe  that  as  I  had  not  already  killed  him  I 
would  not  do  so  unless  I  became  blinded  by  pas 
sion.  I  think  he  tried  to  conciliate  me,  but  at  all 
events  he  straightened  up  in  his  chair  and  spoke 
with  a  measure  of  strength  in  his  voice. 

'  You  wounded  my  nephew,  for  unfortunately 
I  must  call  him  my  nephew,  though  he  runs  coun 
ter  to  all  my  wishes.  He  came  here  after  the 
battle  above  Charlestown,  and  was  sick,"  he 
answered. 

"  His  wound  was  not  serious?  " 

"  No,  only  severe  —  two  buckshot  in  his  shoul 
der." 

"  'Tis  a  pity  they  did  not  lodge  in  his  black 
heart!  Well,  what  has  become  of  him?" 

"  A  day  or  so  ago  he  obtained  leave  and  went 
—  went  down  the  bay." 

"  Where  ?  "  I  thundered,  taking  another  threat 
ening  step  toward  him. 


210          THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

"  Stop  —  stop!  I  am  telling  —  I  will  tell  the 
truth.  He  went  to  stay  for  a  time  on  Hog 
Island.  We  —  they  —  I  mean  his  majesty's 
troops  have  taken  it  by  driving  off  the  reb  — 
the  colonists.  You  do  not  believe  me.  Here, 
sir,  read  this;  it  corroborates  me.  It  is  from 
him." 

He  held  out  the  paper  he  had  when  he  opened 
the  door,  and  was  yet  clutching  in  his  skinny  fist. 
I  took  it  from  him  and  read  it.  It  was  dated  two 
days  before,  and  ran  thus: 

HOG  ISLAND  —  Wednesday. 
Dear  Uncle: 

I  have  not  improved  my  prospects,  military  or  other 
wise,  by  coming  here.  Have  no  better  accommodation 
than  a  room  in  a  windmill,  and  am  pretty  generally  dis 
gusted. 

I  wish  you  would  prevail  on  Loring  to  get  me  an  audi 
ence  with  General  Gage.  That  the  governor-general  has 
never  seen  me  would  not  injure  my  cause,  and  perhaps  he 
has  not  learned  of  what  Louise  has  charged  you.  He 
need  not  know  our  relations  to  each  other. 

Try  to  arrange  matters  at  once,  and  advise  me  of  re 
sult.  My  arm  still  lame,  but  is  improving. 

I  always  fear  that  the  rebels  will  come  here  in  force 
and  dispossess  us.  We  should  be  reenforced  at  once  or 
the  troops  transferred  to  Noddles  Island,  which  would  be 
more  important  to  us.  Last  night  the  rebels  crossed  from 
main  and  drove  off  fifty  cattle,  going  scot-free. 

Send  me  word  by  first  opportunity. 

I  wish  I  had  not  come  here,  and  that  L.  was  with  the 
devil  who  sent  her  into  my  life. 

LAWRENCE. 


THE  SECRET  ROOM  211 

I  read  the  note  without  a  change  of  countenance, 
but  with  one  eye  on  the  paper  and  the  other  on 
the  old  man  who,  I  knew,  was  perfectly  capable 
of  stabbing  me  had  he  a  weapon  near. 

So  Brussel  was  out  of  my  reach!  Had  he  been 
as  near  as  was  his  uncle  I  would  not  have  spared 
him;  there  would  be  nothing  about  him  to  com 
mand  pity,  for  even  as  he  was  writing  this  screed 
he  knew  of  my  danger  and  was  banking  on  my 
death.  I  folded  the  letter  and  placed  it  in  my 
pocket,  then  spoke  to  the  cringing  lawyer: 

"  I  am  willing  to  believe  you  are  telling  the 
truth  regarding  your  nephew.  I  only  wish  I 
might  visit  him  as  I  am  visiting  you;  I  would 
mighty  soon  convince  him  that  both  his  plans  and 
yours  have  miscarried.  And  this  brings  me  back 
to  the  present.  I  shall  be  your  guest  for  a  few 
days,  or  perhaps  but  for  a  few  hours.  It  shall 
be  as  urgency  demands.  As  I  would  no  more 
trust  you  than  I  would  a  rattlesnake,  I  shall  make 
you  a  prisoner  in  your  own  house." 

Dench  made  no  answer,  only  staring  blankly 
at  me  as  if  he  but  half  comprehended  my  words. 
I  stepped  to  the  door  and  locked  it  that  he  might 
not  run  out  while  my  back  was  turned,  and  plac 
ing  the  key  in  my  pocket,  walked  over  to  the  door 
he  had  tried  to  shut  when  he  recognized  me.  But 
this  latter  did  not  open  into  another  room,  as  I 
thought  it  did,  unless,  indeed,  a  large,  brick-lined 
closet  may  be  called  a  room.  The  door  itself 


212          THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

was  ingeniously  contrived  to  hide  what  was  behind 
it,  for  its  outer  side  was  lined  with  shelves  and 
filled  with  books,  and  when  this  was  closed  there 
was  no  evidence  of  a  closet,  so  accurately  did  it 
match  the  rest  of  the  wall. 

Here,  then,  was  just  what  I  wished  —  a  place 
to  confine  the  man  and  have  him  under  my  eye. 
Before  entering  the  closet  I  turned  and  looked  at 
the  lawyer.  He  was  closely  watching  me,  his 
hands  gripping  the  arms  of  his  chair,  his  lean 
knuckles  turned  white  under  the  pressure;  but  he 
said  nothing  and  I  went  on  with  my  investigation. 

The  place  was  plainly  a  secret  strong-room, 
secure  against  fire  if  not  against  burglary,  for  the 
door,  which  had  only  a  knob  and  no  lock,  was 
lined  with  iron  plates.  Piled  on  the  shelves  and 
on  the  floor  were  numerous  old  books,  ledgers, 
cash-books,  and  the  like,  together  with  packages 
of  musty  papers,  a  cursory  examination  of  which 
brought  forth  nothing  of  value  to  me.  I  was  now 
in  no  hurry,  and  I  kept  in  view  the  possibility  of 
coming  across  something  in  the  way  of  evidence 
relating  to  the  remains  of  the  fortune  of  Louise 
Selden,  but  not  a  paper  bearing  her  name  did  I 
see,  and  I  concluded  that  the  wily  old  fox  who  sat 
outside  had  disposed  of  or  hidden  every  evidence 
of  his  obligations  as  a  guardian. 

While  I  was  browsing  among  these  ancient 
documents  I  noticed  that  against  the  further  wall 
of  the  strong-room,  and  apparently  fastened  to 


THE  SECRET  ROOM  213 

it,  was  an  unframed  oil-painting  of  a  beautiful 
young  woman  dressed  in  the  fashion  of  fifty  years 
before.  Though  it  was  covered  with  dust  and 
showed  no  signs  of  care  I  was  struck  by  the  ap 
pealing  melancholy  of  the  face,  and  that  it  was 
a  portrait  of  Bench's  late  wife,  dead  for  years,  I 
had  little  doubt.  When  I  had  done  with  the  con 
tents  of  the  little  room  I  went  up  to  the  portrait 
and  passed  my  sleeve  over  the  face  to  rid  it  of 
its  fog  of  grime. 

As  I  did  so,  using  some  pressure,  to  my  as 
tonishment  there  came  from  behind  it  a  sound 
not  at  all  like  bending  canvas;  it  was  rather  the 
snap  that  comes  from  bending  tin;  and  then  I  con 
ceived  that  behind  the  picture  was  something  more 
than  a  bare  wall.  And  I  was  right,  for  on  close 
investigation  I  discovered  that  the  work  of  art 
was  but  a  disguise  over  the  door  of  another  closet, 
a  door  which  had  neither  catch  nor  lock,  but  which 
fitted  snugly  into  the  brick-work.  It  was  an  old 
device  and  one  that  still  exists  in  many  houses  of 
that  time  —  a  secret  closet  within  a  secret  closet. 
I  began  to  feel  that  my  search,  desultory  in  the 
beginning,  would  bear  fruit. 

While  exploring  in  the  strong-room  I  was  hid 
den  from  Bench's  sight,  but  my  ears  were  trained 
for  his  slightest  movement.  I  looked  out  and 
found  him  in  the  same  tense  and  strained  posi 
tion,  his  eyes  fixed  on  the  book-lined  door,  and 
gathering  a  thing  or  two  from  his  rapt  attention 


2i4          THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

I  began  work  on  the  Inside  door.  It  opened  hard, 
but  when  at  last  it  did  open  I  forgot  Bench  for 
the  moment,  so  absorbed  was  I  in  what  I  saw. 
For  the  dim  light  that  penetrated  the  little  closet 
showed  me,  beside  a  tin  box  covered  with  dust, 
several  small  canvas  bags,  and  that  they  were 
bags  of  coin  I  knew  even  before  I  touched  them 
and  tested  their  weight.  And  by  that  test  I  be 
came  aware  that  their  contents  was  gold. 

Here  was  a  find,  though  perhaps  one  of  no  ac 
count  to  me,  I  being  no  thief.  Taking  up  one  of 
the  bags  I  carried  it  out  into  the  light  of  the 
office. 


CHAPTER  XX 

ALIAS  CAPTAIN  BRUSSEL 

AS  the  old  man  saw  what  I  held  he  jumped 
to  his  feet,  threw  up  his  skinny  hands  and 
let  out  a  shout  of  pain. 

"  Oh,  my  God!  Not  that  —  don't  take  that! 
I  will  give  it  to  her !  I  am  her  guardian !  I  am 
but  hiding  it  from  Larry !  " 

"  And  from  her,"  I  said,  looking  down  on  the 
creature.  He  did  not  appear  to  have  heard  me 
as  he  clasped  his  hands. 

"  Nay,  giant  though  you  be,  you  shall  not  rob 
an  old  man!  My  God,  I  cannot  let  it  go!  " 

His  voice  was  a  shriek,  and  his  fingers  clutched 
the  bag  as  I  held  it,  his  eyes  gleaming  with  greed. 

His  attitude  was  a  revelation  to  me;  the  man 
was  money-mad  —  a  miser  —  and  one  whose 
thirst  for  the  yellow  metal  had  prompted  him  to 
rob.  Had  he  forgotten  or  failed  to  realize  that 
I  had  overheard  his  infamous  plot  to  mulct  the 
girl  of  her  fortune,  the  size  of  which  I  knew  noth 
ing.  I  thought  I  saw  the  whole  matter  then;  he 
had  her  money,  probably  the  proceeds  of  shrewd 
investment,  and  was  holding  it  intact,  or  most  of 

215 


216          THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

it.  The  loss  of  his  own  wealth  through  the  un 
fortunate  venture  about  which  he  had  told  his 
nephew,  together  with  a  natural  avariciousness, 
made  it  impossible  for  him  to  part  with  cash  once 
in  his  possession.  Gold  was  a  god  to  one  of  his 
nature,  its  allurement  stronger  than  any  principle 
he  possessed.  Mentally  I  could  see  him  running 
his  claw-like  fingers  through  the  bulk  of  cool  metal 
pieces,  and  gloating  over  them.  I  jerked  the  bag 
from  his  feeble  grasp. 

"So  this  is  Miss  Selden's,  ha?"  I  said. 
"  And  between  the  two  of  you  she  has  been  lied 
to  and  outraged  that  you  might  take  to  yourselves 
that  which  belongs  to  her?  Why,  you  whey- 
faced  villain,  you  have  me  to  account  to  now! 
How  much  is  there  in  the  safe?  " 

"  Two  —  two  thousand  pounds,"  he  whim 
pered,  stretching  out  his  hands.  "  For  the  love 
of  Heaven  don't  take  it!  Let  me  have  it  —  just 
to  feel  of.  Oh,  I  cannot  let  it  go !  " 

He  was  trembling  like  one  with  the  palsy,  and 
to  my  profound  disgust  he  fell  on  his  knees  and 
clasped  mine  as  he  pleaded.  "  Get  up,"  I  said  to 
the  groveling  man.  "  Once  I  thought  you 
strong,  but  now  you  are  a  very  dog." 

He  got  back  into  his  chair,  clasping  and  un 
clasping  his  hands,  a  picture  of  weakness  and 
avarice,  his  mania  plainly  uncovered  through  my 
unexpected  find.  To  Louise  Selden  he  had  with 
out  doubt  lied  as  he  had  to  his  nephew  in  the  in- 


ALIAS  CAPTAIN  BRUSSEL        217 

terview  I  had  overheard.  "Feel  it?"  said  I. 
"  Faith,  I  am  like  to  choke  you  with  it!  No  one 
shall  be  robbed!  Doesn't  your  sweet  nephew 
know  of  this  strong-room?  " 

"  Nay,  nor  even  suspects,"  was  the  almost  whis 
pered  answer. 

"  That's  more  than  likely  the  truth,"  I  returned, 
laying  the  bag  on  the  table,  "  for  had  he  guessed 
at  the  whereabouts  of  this  he  would  probably 
have  made  an  end  to  his  loving  uncle  long  since ! 
Let  us  see  what  is  here." 

I  untied  the  leather  thong  closing  the  mouth  of 
the  canvas,  and  poured  the  bag's  contents  out  on 
the  table.  It  was  gold  —  all  gold  —  and  in  sov 
ereign  pieces,  and  as  the  coins  settled  on  the  wood 
the  old  man  made  a  convulsive  reach  for  the  pile, 
running  his  fingers  through  it,  just  as  I  had  pic 
tured  the  miser  playing  with  his  hoard.  The 
sound  of  it  was  music  to  him. 

"  Don't  take  it  away!  "  he  moaned,  "  I  will  give 
it  to  her.  I  will  give  — " 

"Is  it  all  Miss  Selden's?"  I  asked.  "But 
never  mind,  you  would  lie  about  it!  However, 
we  will  have  it  out  of  your  reach,  my  friend." 

I  gathered  up  the  money,  not  attempting  to 
count  it,  only  judging  there  were  about  five  hun 
dred  pounds  on  the  table;  and  I  had  hardly  re 
placed  the  last  coin  when  the  old  villain  sprang 
at  me  like  a  tiger,  and  yet  not  at  me  so  much  as 
at  the  bag  I  held,  and  tried  to  pull  it  from  my 


2i8          THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

grasp.  In  the  meantime  his  voice  rose  in  a  cat 
like  scream. 

The  man  was  fairly  insane.  I  shook  him  from 
me  easily  enough,  and  he  fell  back  into  his  chair 
whimpering  like  an  abused  child.  At  that  mo 
ment  my  disgust  for  him  was  extreme,  and  though 
I  knew  he  could  be  readily  handled,  he  might  be 
come  dangerous  if  left  to  himself.  His  scream 
ing  brought  Letty  to  the  door,  which  I  unlocked 
at  her  call. 

"  Bring  the  old  rascal  something  to  eat,"  I  said, 
"  and  when  you  come  back  fetch  a  bed-cord  with 
you." 

"  Yo'  goin'  to  hang  him?  "  asked  the  negress, 
her  black  eyes  wide. 

"Nay,  though  he  deserves  it;  bring  the  cord 
and  trust  me.  This  is  for  your  protection  as 
well  as  for  mine.  He  knows  your  position  now, 
so  you  and  I  are  in  the  same  boat." 

Hang  him?  No.  But  tie  him?  Yes.  For 
I  had  made  up  my  mind  he  was  too  subtile  to  be 
left  hand-free,  and  had  determined  to  bind  him. 
When  Letty  returned,  bringing  with  her  a  cord, 
I  told  her  to  go  back  to  the  kitchen,  and  setting 
my  teeth,  proceeded  to  bind  the  old  man  hand  and 
foot,  tying  him  into  his  chair,  then  lifting  both, 
set  them  in  his  own  strong-room.  It  must  have 
been  a  tremendous  experience  for  the  once  self- 
contained  and  influential  lawyer  to  be  handled  in 
that  manner,  but  it  was  the  medicine  due  him.  I 


ALIAS  CAPTAIN  BRUSSEL        219 

did  not  shut  him  in,  but  left  the  door  ajar  that  he 
might  have  air,  though  threatening  to  leave  him 
in  the  dark  if  he  made  an  outcry.  He  was  com 
pletely  crushed,  and  I  know  not  if  he  understood, 
for  he  made  no  reply,  but  he  did  not  raise  his  voice 
after  he  was  placed  in  the  brick  closet. 

In  the  meantime  I  had  removed  the  rest  of 
the  money,  five  bags  of  it,  together  with  a  mass  of 
books  and  papers  which  I  hoped  to  examine  at 
my  leisure,  for  now  I  felt  perfectly  secure,  Brus- 
sel  being  out  of  the  way.  As  for  a  possible  caller, 
Letty  might  dispose  of  him  with  any  story  she 
wished;  surely  no  client  would  come,  for  the  civil 
law  was  dead  in  Boston. 

On  counting  the  money  I  found  that  it  was  as 
Dench  had  said;  there  were  two  thousand  pounds; 
and  in  a  tin  box,  also  from  the  inside  safe,  I  dis 
covered  a  number  of  papers,  each  referring  to 
some  properties  in  and  beyond  the  city,  and  each 
bore  the  name  of  Selden,  with  Dench  as  his  at 
torney.  I  felt  that  much  might  be  unraveled  by 
competent  hands,  and  resolved  to  submit  the 
whole  matter  to  my  father,  if  time  should  ever 
serve. 

But  in  the  meantime  money  and  papers  must 
be  placed  beyond  the  reach  and  even  the  ken 
of  the  old  villain  now  a  prisoner  in  his  own  safe, 
but  nothing  could  be  done  while  daylight  lasted. 
When  it  was  dark  I  would  hide  them  somewhere 
outside  the  walls  of  that  house. 


220         THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

Now,  gold  and  title-deeds  were  not  the  only 
things  I  found  that  day;  for  on  searching  the  tin 
box  in  the  interest  of  the  young  lady  to  whom  I 
owed  so  much,  I  made  one  other  discovery.  By 
itself,  wrapped  up  carefully  in  a  sheet  of  blue 
foolscap,  I  came  across  a  paper  which  I  recognized 
as  a  note-of-hand,  otherwise,  a  regular  promis 
sory  note,  for  fifty  pounds,  made  by  one  David  T. 
Dalrymple,  and  drawn  in  favor  of  some  one  whose 
name  I  have  now  forgotten. 

However,  as  it  was  indorsed  by  Lawrence 
Brussel,  my  eyes  became  opened  to  its  nature, 
especially  as  it  was  some  two  months  over-due,  and 
across  its  face,  in  red  ink,  was  written  the  word 
"  Forgery!  "  in  large  letters.  Then  I  recollected 
Dench's  reference  to  a  paper  he  held  over  his 
nephew's  head,  and  which  had  brought  the  latter 
party  to  agree  to  his  uncle's  scheme. 

I  saw  through  the  matter  now.  Larry  had 
forged  the  paper  in  the  name  of  his  own  colonel, 
and  having  endorsed  it  himself,  had  prevailed  on 
his  uncle  to  discount  it.  The  old  man  had  done 
so,  but  on  the  note  becoming  mature  Brussel  had 
been  unable  to  pay,  and  to  prevent  it  falling  into 
his  commander's  hands,  had  confessed  to  his  rel 
ative.  Later  he  had  made  good  in  some  way, 
and  thought  the  paper  destroyed,  but  on  the  morn 
ing  I  stood  at  the  door  and  listened  he  learned 
that  he  was  on  the  brink  of  a  disgraceful  ruin  if 
he  ran  counter  to  his  uncle's  wishes. 


ALIAS  CAPTAIN  BRUSSEL        221 

All  this  appeared  plain  enough  to  me,  and  see 
ing  what  a  fine  weapon  I  possessed,  I  folded  it 
and  carefully  placed  it  in  my  pocket  along  with 
the  letter  from  Brussel  to  his  uncle,  which  I  had 
appropriated  after  reading.  Making  neither 
head  nor  tail  to  the  rest  of  the  stuff,  I  bundled  docu 
ments  and  gold  under  the  hair-cloth  sofa  and  be 
gan  to  consider  my  own  future. 

What  should  I  do?  for,  of  course,  I  could  not 
long  remain  where  I  was.  I  was  not  safe  on  the 
streets  at  night,  and  during  the  day  I  might  be 
recognized;  moreover,  I  was  shabby  enough  to 
attract  attention  anywhere. 

Considering  that  I  might  remedy  the  latter 
•difficulty  without  going  abroad,  I  started  up-stairs 
in  search  of  clothing.  Ignoring  the  room  in 
which  I  had  been  assaulted  I  went  on  to  the  next 
and  at  once  knew  it  had  been  occupied  by  Larry 
Brussel  himself,  for  the  smell  of  stale  tobacco 
still  hung  on  the  curtains  and  bed-hangings. 
There  was  little  in  it  to  serve  me  save  the  uniform 
he  had  worn  on  the  day  of  Bunker  Hill,  and  the 
sword-scabbard  with  enough  of  the  broken  blade 
to  hold  sword  and  scabbard  together.  The  uni 
form  I  knew,  the  ragged  holes  in  the  left  shoul 
der,  and  the  dark  stain  of  blood  on  the  cloth  speak 
ing  loudly  enough. 

I  examined  the  coat  with  a  view  of  using  it, 
as  I  had  about  concluded  that  if  I  was  to  escape 
from  Boston  it  must  be  by  way  of  the  Neck,  and 


222         THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

to  pass  that  well-guarded  point  I  should  have  to 
appear  as  —  what?  The  uniform  seemed  to 
point  the  answer  —  as  a  British  officer,  of  course, 
and  nothing  less. 

But  I  would  need  a  pass  —  indeed,  I  would  be 
lame  without  one,  though  how  I  was  to  come  by 
such  a  thing  I  could  not  imagine.  I  searched  the 
pockets  of  coat  and  small-clothes  in  the  foolish 
hope  that  a  pass  might  be  found,  but  though  I 
failed  in  that,  I  discovered  a  paper  which  the 
wounded  man  had  placed  in  the  coat,  and  evi 
dently  overlooked.  The  thing  was  dated  but  five 
days  before,  and  when  I  read  it  I  became  aware 
that  Louise  Selden,  like  Brussel,  was  out  of  my 
reach;  more,  she  was  probably  with  him,  but  in 
what  condition  I  might  only  guess  at.  I  ground 
my  teeth  as  I  read: 

T  June  30. 

Larry : 

I  consent  to  your  proposition,  but  I  must  not  be  known 
in  it.  I  shall  be  away  that  night. 

If  you  paint  me  black  enough  you  may  succeed  in  con 
vincing  her  of  your  devotion,  but  I  fail  to  see  how  you 
are  helping  matters  toward  the  desired  end. 

It  will  be  well  for  you,  if  you  bring  her  back  as  your 
wife ;  it  may  be  ill  for  you  if  you  do  not. 

Yours, 


This  precious  document  was  unsigned,  but  it 
needed  no  signature.  It  made  the  blood  leap  in 
my  veins.  Here  was  villainy,  without  doubt,  and 


ALIAS  CAPTAIN  BRUSSEL        223 

it  was  equally  plain  that  the  old  sinner  now  in  his 
strong-room  had  been  glad  to  be  rid  of  the  girl 
and  had  played  her  into  the  hands  of  his  worse 
than  worthless  nephew  at  a  time  when  he  should 
have  been  protecting  her.  And  all  to  no  purpose, 
so  far  as  he  was  concerned,  since  I  now  held  the 
girl's  money  and  the  key  to  the  situation.  Dench 
had  pretended  to  me  that  he  did  not  know  where 
the  girl  was.  Perhaps  he  did  not;  but  he  might 
easily  have  surmised;  and  I  had  my  strong  sus 
picion.  She  was  with  Brussel;  kidnaped  by  him, 
in  short.  It  was  plain  to  me  that  she  had  learned 
too  much  for  the  comfort  and  safety  of  uncle  and 
nephew  and  had,  therefore,  been  abducted.  And 
the  attempt  was  being  made  to  coerce  her  into 
marrying  the  man  I  now  hated  as  I  had  never 
hated  him  before.  My  feeling  toward  him  awak 
ened  me  to  the  feeling  I  had  toward  her;  it  came 
like  a  sudden  revelation;  though  I  scarcely  knew 
her,  my  debt  of  gratitude,  the  peculiar  condition 
of  our  forced  intimacy  and  her  own  attractive 
personality,  once  my  eyes  were  opened  to  it,  had 
exerted  an  influence  over  me  which  I  had  not 
taken  into  account.  But  now  I  knew  how  I  felt 
toward  the  girl;  perhaps  I  idealized  her,  but  cer 
tain  it  is  that  I  looked  upon  her  and  felt  drawn 
toward  her  as  to  no  other  woman  who  had  ever 
come  into  my  life.  I  knew  not  exactly  what  love 
for  a  woman  was,  but  I  did  know  that  if  I  did  not 
love  Louise  Selden  I  was  far  on  the  road  to  it. 


224         THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

At  all  events  while  I  lived  no  such  moral  leper  as 
Hotfoot  Brussel  should  possess  her,  save  by 
violence,  and  even  then  not  for  long. 

I  had  the  best  of  reasons  to  believe  the  two 
to  be  on  Hog  Island.  That  unpoetically  named 
spot,  as  beautiful  as  any  about  Boston,  lay  well 
down  the  bay  and  just  off  the  Maiden  coast,  be 
ing  separated  from  Noddles  Island  by  a  narrow 
arm  of  the  sea.  They  might  as  well  have  been  In 
Palestine,  so  far  as  I  was  concerned,  though  the 
island  was  so  small  that  I  might  have  searched 
every  house  and  mill  on  it  in  a  single  day. 

How  could  I  get  there?  I  could  conceive  of 
no  way  save  to  escape  by  way  of  the  Neck,  go 
round  by  land,  ferry  myself  to  the  island  in 
the  face  of  a  British  detachment.  And  then? 
Heaven  only  knew  what  would  follow. 

But  the  scheme  was  wild;  it  would  take  me  a 
week  to  get  there,  and  here  I  was  mewed  up  in 
the  center  of  the  enemy's  stronghold.  I  was 
fairly  cornered,  though  not  yet  at  bay.  My  fin 
gers  itched  to  get  at  the  skinny  throat  of  the  law 
yer  who  had  been  the  cause  of  this  coil,  but  I 
knew  I  would  do  nothing  to  the  helpless  villain. 
My  self-respect  was  not  yet  dead. 

Bothered  as  I  was,  I  came  finally  to  a  decision. 
I  must  get  to  Hog  Island  though  the  heavens  fell 
or  it  took  a  month. 

That  night  I  would  hide  the  girl's  money,  then, 
disguised  as  an  officer,  using  Brussel's  uniform,  I 


ALIAS  CAPTAIN  BRUSSEL        225 

would  go  boldly  to  the  water-front  and  try  to  ob 
tain  a  boat.  If  I  could  steal  one,  well  and  good; 
if  not,  I  would  try  some  other  way,  for  get  to 
the  mainland  I  must. 

Even  the  settling  of  this  much  put  new  life 
into  me,  and  I  prepared  myself  for  as  desperate 
a  venture  as  I  had  ever  attempted.  The  day 
passed,  dragging  along  without  more  excitement 
than  that  which  came  from  thinking  and  eating. 
Of  the  latter  I  did  my  fill,  then  fed  the  captive, 
bringing  him  out  of  his  close  quarters  and  setting 
.free  his  hands.  But  not  a  word  would  he  return 
to  my  questioning,  hardly  looking  at  me,  nor  did 
he  eat  as  if  he  relished  his  food  —  the  last  not 
causing  me  any  wonder. 

I  thought  him  too  deep  and  dangerous  to  re 
main  loose;  therefore,  I  again  fastened  him  to 
his  chair  and  set  him  in  his  prison.  He  made  no 
resistance,  though  he  looked  like  a  surly  dog  who 
was  watching  his  chance  to  bite,  so  I  had  no  pity 
for  him  and  made  him  see  the  price  he  was  pay 
ing  for  his  treachery. 

As  darkness  fell  I  made  ready  for  my  attempt 
to  escape.  With  Bench's  own  razor  I  shaved, 
put  my  hair  in  order,  then  got  into  Brussel's  old 
uniform  which  though  not  a  perfect  fit  served  well 
enough,  and  to  make  the  stain  and  tear  in  the  cloth 
less  conspicuous,  I  improvised  a  sling  in  which 
to  lay  my  left  arm,  the  linen  crossing  and  covering 
the  rents  and  bloodstains. 


226          THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

I  appeared  to  lack  nothing  in  the  way  of  equip 
ment.  Even  the  sword,  which  no  officer  would 
appear  without,  was  provided  in  the  broken  one. 
It  was  useless  as  a  weapon,  but  it  made  a  brave 
enough  appearance,  and  so,  wrapping  its  belt 
around  it,  I  carried  it  down-stairs,  and  looking  at 
myself  in  the  mirror,  had  a  realizing  sense  of  the 
value  of  fine  feathers;  certainly  no  one  would 
identify  me  as  the  ragged  fugitive  who  had 
sneaked  into  the  house  that  morning.  I  doubt  if 
my  own  father  would  have  known  me,  rigged  as 
I  was.  When  Dench  saw  me  his  eyes  lighted, 
he  probably  thinking  for  the  moment  that  I  was 
Brussel  come  back,  but  when  he  discovered  his 
mistake  he  squirmed  in  his  chair.  But  he  said 
nothing,  not  even  wasting  his  breath  in  cursing 
me;  but  he  was  not  a  profane  man. 

There  was  but  one  thing  left  to  be  done  be 
fore  I  started  out,  and  that  to  dispose  of  the  gold 
and  box  of  papers.  Over  them  I  pondered  for  a 
time.  The  bags  might  be  sunk  in  the  well,  but 
not  so  the  tin  box;  and  not  wishing  to  separate 
them,  and  being  at  my  wits'  end  for  a  way  to  dis 
pose  of  them,  I  left  the  house  by  way  of  the  office 
window,  taking  the  stuff  with  me  in  two  trips,  and 
then  I  buried  them  by  lifting  a  flagstone  of  the 
path  to  the  well,  scooping  a  hole  under  it  suffi 
ciently  large  to  take  in  the  several  packages.  The 
accumulated  soil  I  threw  into  the  ditch,  and  re 
placed  the  stone.  It  was  nine  o'clock  when  I 


ALIAS  CAPTAIN  BRUSSEL        227 

started  on  this,  it  being  fairly  dark,  and  even  Letty 
knew  nought  of  what  I  had  done.  Now  I  con 
sidered  money  and  papers  safe  until  such  time  as 
I  could  put  the  proper  owner  on  the  right  track 
of  them,  not  thinking  it  would  fall  to  my  lot  to 
uncover  the  treasure. 

I  regained  the  office  without  difficulty,  reopen 
ing  the  door  of  the  old  man's  prison  that  he  might 
have  air.  I  well  remember  the  hour;  it  was  strik 
ing  ten  by  the  tall  hall-clock,  and  I  was  just  wip 
ing  the  perspiration  from  my  forehead  when  there 
came  a  loud  rap  at  the  front  entrance. 

Had  it  been  a  volley  of  musketry  I  would  not 
have  been  more  startled.  Quickly  closing  the 
disguised  door  on  my  prisoner,  I  slipped  into 
the  uniform  coat  and  adjusted  the  sling,  though 
my  left  arm  was  ready  for  action  at  any  mo 
ment. 

Taking  the  candle  from  the  table,  I  went  into 
the  hall,  set  the  light  some  distance  from  the  en 
trance,  and  proceeded  to  open  the  door. 

I  don't  know  what  I  had  prepared  myself  for, 
but  I  confess  to  being  almost  shocked  as  I  saw  a 
British  corporal  standing  at  attention  on  the  top 
step.  As  he  saw  me  he  raised  his  hand  in  salute, 
and  then  I  noticed  he  had  no  musket. 

"  Captain  Brussel?"  he  said. 

Now,  before  answering  I  had  to  think  quickly. 
iWho  was  the  fellow?  If  from  Brussel's  regi 
ment  he  would  know  that  officer  and  promptly 


228          THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

smell  a  rat  if  I  should  answer  to  his  name.     I 
therefore  decided  on  being  non-committal. 

"Well?"  I  returned. 

"  It  was  thought  that  you  might  be  out  of  town, 
sir,"  said  the  soldier,  "  but  I  was  told  to  deliver 
this  letter  if  you  were  found." 

'  Who  are  you  from?  "  I  demanded. 

"  From  Commissioner  Loring,  sir."  With 
that  he  held  forth  a  paper,  which  I  took  from 
him. 

"  Any  answer?  "  I  asked  carelessly. 

"  I  don't  know,  captain;  but  I  think  so." 

"  Step  inside,  my  man,"  I  said,  not  caring  to 
be  seen  from  the  street.  He  obeyed,  and  I 
closed  the  door.  Then,  going  to  the  candle,  I 
tore  open  the  letter  and  read: 

Captain  Brussel: 

You  have  me  and  yourself  in  a  fine  fix.  Your  orderly 
sergeant  was  found  dead  in  an  upper  room  of  Whipple's 
empty  warehouse,  his  body  being  chained  to  a  dog.  The 
rebel,  Darcy,  whom  I  passed  to  your  control,  has  escaped. 

As  he  was  known  to  have  been  confined  in  that  room 
by  your  orders,  I  am  required  to  show  how  the  prisoner 
passed  from  my  hands  without  warrant  or  trial,  and  while 
damning  myself  in  the  explanation,  I  shall  certainly  damn 
you  also  unless  you  come  to  me  and  show  a  possible  way 
out  of  the  dilemma. 

I  must  answer  by  ten  in  the  morning  unless  I  am  will 
ing  the  matter  gets  to  the  ears  of  his  excellency,  who  does 
not  yet  know.  Come  at  once.  Will  receive  you  at  any 
hour. 

L. 


ALIAS  CAPTAIN  BRUSSEL        229 

Here  was  a  coil  for  some  one,  but  not  for  me. 

I  confess  I  was  rather  taken  aback  at  the  death 
of  the  sergeant,  but  it  was  a  thing  that  caused 
me  no  remorse.  He  was  a  brute,  and  deserved 
all  he  got.  I  turned  to  the  waiting  soldier. 

'  You  are   from   Commissioner  Loring? " 

"  Yes,  sir." 

''  Tell  him  I  will  see  him  before  the  hour 
named.  Tell  him  also  that  there  is  no  cause  to 
worry.  That  is  all,  my  man." 

I  opened  the  door. 

As  I  did  so  I  was  startled  to  see  another  soldier 
coming  up  the  few  steps.  He  was  armed  and 
evidently  bent  on  business,  for  after  a  quick  salute 
he  said  with  official  abruptness: 

"  Captain  Brussel  is  to  proceed  to  headquar 
ters  at  once." 

"What's  this?"  said  I,  almost  forgetting  the 
role  I  was  playing.  "By  whose  orders?"  I 
added,  catching  myself. 

"  Orders  of  his  excellency,  sir." 

"  General  Gage !  "  I  exclaimed  in  astonishment. 

*  Yes,  captain,"  said  the  man,  "  and  I  am  told 
to  escort  you  as  soon  as  possible." 

"  I  will  wait  upon  his  excellency  at  once,"  I 
returned,  ignoring  the  reference  to  my  being  es 
corted. 

"  I  shall  have  to  obey  orders,  captain,"  said  the 
man,  standing  stiffly,  his  musket  across  his  chest 
in  the  position  of  a  salute. 


230         THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

"  What!  "  I  exclaimed.  "  Do  you  mean  I  am 
to  be  escorted  as  a  prisoner?  " 

"  I  think  if  arrest  was  thought  of  more  than 
one  man  would  have  been  sent  for  you,  sir,"  re 
turned  the  fellow,  the  ghost  of  a  smile  on  his  face, 
"  but  I  was  ordered  to  return  with  you." 

"  Very  good,"  I  answered;  "  remain  until  I  am 
ready.  You  may  take  my  answer  to  Mr.  Lor- 
ing,"  I  said,  addressing  the  first  man,  and  waved 
him  out.  He  stepped  to  the  porch  and  I  closed 
the  door  on  both. 

And  then  I  felt  as  if  the  weight  of  the  world 
lay  on  my  shoulders.  Right  on  the  verge  of  my 
attempt  at  escaping  had  come  two  unexpected  mat 
ters,  one  of  which  was  of  serious  and  immediate 
import,  and  the  other  threatened  me  if  I  escaped 
the  first.  I  was  between  Scilla  and  Charybdis. 

I  was  not  afraid  of  Loring,  for  ere  he  would 
attempt  to  hunt  up  Captain  Brussel  on  the  mor 
row,  I  hoped  to  be  gone  from  Boston.  But  the 
command  to  headquarters !  That  was  a  matter 
to  brook  no  delay.  What  could  be  in  the  wind, 
and  how  could  I  escape?  One  thing  suggested 
itself,  and  that,  violence.  I  cared  not  for  one 
soldier,  armed  though  he  was.  I  might  order 
him  into  the  hall,  attack  him,  bind  him,  and  put 
him  in  the  cellar.  I  did  not  doubt  my  ability, 
nerved  up  as  I  then  was,  but  there  was  one  great 
objection  to  the  risk. 

The  man  from  Loring  had  not  gone  on  his 


ALIAS  CAPTAIN  BRUSSEL        231 

way,  but  stood  talking  with  the  last  messenger,  as 
if  he  were  in  no  hurry.  As  plain  as  need  be  I 
could  hear  the  voices  of  the  two.  And  I  dared 
not  open  the  door  and  order  him  off  —  that  would 
be  unlike  an  officer  —  and,  too,  I  was  supposed  to 
be  getting  ready  to  go  to  headquarters. 

While  I  was  in  the  depths  of  my  quandary  as 
to  what  to  do  to  get  out  of  obeying  Gage's  order, 
there  leaped  into  my  memory  the  letter  I  had 
taken  from  Dench,  written  from  Hog  Island. 
In  it  was  the  statement  that  the  writer  was  un 
known  to  General  Gage.  This  came  to  me  like 
a  rope  to  a  drowning  man,  and  with  it  came  the 
realization  that  the  matter  could  have  no  con 
nection  with  the  escaped  prisoner  as  Loring's  word 
had  just  assured  me  that  as  yet  General  Gage 
knew  nothing  about  it.  Later  this  assurance 
proved  to  be  false,  but  it  fixed  my  decision  then; 
for  now  I  conceived  that  instead  of  being  a 
menace,  a  trip  to  headquarters,  where  I  was  not 
known,  might  open  up  a  way  to  escape,  the  means 
of  which  I  had  not  yet  been  able  to  settle. 

Risk  is  part  of  the  play  of  life,  the  conservative 
and  cowardly  rarely  accomplishing  anything,  and 
as  I  saw  even  this  chance  loophole  I  resolved  to 
act  up  to  my  name  and  test  its  possibilities.  Who 
could  tell  what  might  come  of  it?  I  was  now 
submerged  to  the  neck  in  a  sea  of  danger,  and  I 
might  as  well  swim  out  and  try  to  cross  the  flood. 

There  was  little   I   had  to  do  beyond  seeing 


232          THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

Letty  and  telling  her  I  was  going  away  and  might 
not  be  back.  She  was  dozing  in  the  kitchen,  not 
having  heard  the  knock  on  the  front  door,  and 
when  she  found  a  British  officer  carrying  a  candle 
she  let  out  a  shriek  of  dismay,  thinking,  as  she 
told  me,  that  Brussel  had  returned,  and  having 
made  way  with  me,  liberated  his  uncle  and  heard 
how  she  had  assisted  me,  had  come  down  to  take 
his  revenge  on  her.  Though  she  might  have 
broken  Brussel  across  her  knee,  had  she  obtained 
a  good  hold  on  him,  the  woman  was  a  coward,  as 
are  many  large-bodied  people.  I  did  not  tell  her 
where  I  was  going,  but  I  did  tell  her  where  to  find 
Dench,  and  also  that  she  might  release  him  if  I 
was  not  back  by  noon  the  following  day. 

But  this  she  stoutly  refused  to  do,  saying  that 
as  I  had  imprisoned  him  I  might  care  for  him, 
and  that  to  let  him  go  would  spell  ruin  for  her. 
I  could  not  blame  her,  and  so  I  left  the  house  with 
large  doubts  of  ever  entering  it  again.  As  for 
the  negress,  faithful  to  me  though  she  had  been, 
I  had  promised  her  nothing  for  the  present,  but 
I  made  her  future  rich  if  I  escaped  and  she  did 
her  duty  to  me.  The  great  black  had  not  berated 
me  for  the  coil  she  was  in,  and  wished  for  noth 
ing  but  to  get  from  Boston  and  join  her  brother. 
This,  however,  she  could  not  do,  as  for  her  to  ob 
tain  a  pass  without  the  consent  of  her  employer 
would  be  an  impossibility.  I  could  give  her  no 
hope,  but  I  wrung  her  hamlike  hand  and  bade  her 


ALIAS  CAPTAIN  BRUSSEL        233 

good-by  as  fervently  as  if  her  skin  were  as  white 
as  her  worthy  soul. 

I  went  out  with  my  head  high  though  my  spirits 
were  not  at  a  like  altitude.  I  strode  on,  and  be 
hind  me  at  a  respectful  distance,  walked  the  two 
red-coated  soldiers,  the  one  from  Loring  seeming 
to  care  little  how  late  he  was.  As  for  me,  I  cared 
less. 

Then  it  struck  me:  Would  he  tell  Loring  that 
Captain  Brussel  had  been  called  to  headquarters? 
If  the  commissioner  sent  or  went  there  for  me 
the  result  would  be  tragic.  My  safety  lay  in  not 
being  recognized  as  a  fraud  by  any  one  knowing 
Brussel,  and  while  the  risk  was  a  very  tangible 
one  it  was  not  pressing  at  that  hour. 

But  the  facts  could  not  be  blinked  even  though 
they  did  not  alter  my  determination.  Here  was 
I,  an  escaped  prisoner,  not  acknowledged  as  a 
prisoner  of  war,  but  charged  with  being  a  de 
serter  from  his  majesty's  forces,  dressed  in  the 
uniform  of  a  British  officer,  and  upon  my  head 
the  death  of  a  British  sergeant. 

There  could  be  only  one  result  were  I  discov 
ered  and  captured.  I  would  hang  by  the  mor 
row's  sunrise. 

Hang!  Never  I  Not  when  desperation  could 
invite  bullets  and  bayonets.  I  knew  I  was  hold 
ing  my  life  in  one  hand,  but  I  maintain  I  held  to 
it  without  a  quaver,  though  with  many  doubts. 

It  did  not  seem  like  a  long  walk  to  Provence 


234         THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

House,  though  it  probably  took  more  than  fifteen 
minutes.  Twice  I  met  the  patrol,  and  twice  did 
the  guard  stiffen  to  "  attention,"  salute,  and  let 
me  go  by.  I  then  realized  the  power  of  an  offi 
cer's  uniform  as  I  had  never  before  done,  and 
when  passing  the  Granary  burying-ground  I  saw 
a  couple  of  armed  soldiers  standing  at  the  gate, 
while  within,  among  the  tombstones,  there  moved 
several  lights.  Once  in  a  while  there  was  a  shout, 
but  I  could  make  nothing  of  the  situation. 

Suspecting  something  of  the  matter,  I  stopped 
by  the  guard  and  asked  what  the  trouble  was. 
Both  fellows  saluted,  and  one  answered  promptly: 
"  'Scaped  prisoner,  sir." 

"  Ah !     Any  one  of  importance  ?  " 

"  Don't  know,  sir;  only  he  killed  his  guard 
last  night,  and  a  dog  that  was  with  him.  That's 
all  I  know,  sir." 

"Very  good!"  I  returned;  and  satisfied  that 
I  was  being  searched  for  and  that  the  trail  was 
mighty  cold  when  it  led  to  the  Granary  grave 
yard,  I  passed  on,  my  guard  coming  after  me.  A 
few  moments  later  I  came  to  my  destination. 

It  was  quarter  of  eleven  as  I  went  up  the  long 
flight  of  steps  leading  to  the  front  door  of  Prov 
ence  House. 

Even  at  that  hour  there  was  plenty  of  coming 
and  going  of  officers,  but  everything  was  quiet 
and  formal.  Save  for  their  swaying  one  might 
have  thought  the  sentries  on  either  side  of  the 


ALIAS  CAPTAIN  BRUSSEL        235 

great  doors  were  carved  in  wood,  but  their  mus 
kets  rang  as  a  man,  a  colonel,  as  I  afterward  knew, 
passed  out,  went  by  me  in  the  dusk,  and  flinging 
himself  on  a  horse,  galloped  away.  At  that 
moment  I  had  no  idea  of  what  a  narrow  escape 
had  been  mine.  Had  I  been  ten  minutes  earlier 
I  had  probably  been  ruined. 

My  guide  followed  me  into  the  historic  old 
house,  but  did  not  go  into  the  luxurious  reception- 
room  into  which  I  was  ushered  after  giving  the 
name  of  Brussel  to  the  gorgeous  flunky  who  asked 
for  it. 

I  sat  down,  my  heart  beginning  to  thump  with 
unusual  vigor,  and  every  nerve  in  my  body  was 
singing  like  an  overstrained  harp-string.  In  my 
present  position  there  was  not  the  excitement  I 
had  experienced  when  on  Bunker  Hill  I  saw  the 
enemy  approaching.  Nay,  it  was  worse,  having 
a  menace  which  the  other  situation  did  not  possess; 
it  was  more  like  the  threat  of  the  bloodthirsty 
hound  from  which  I  had  escaped. 

Would  I  have  the  same  fortune  here?  Heaven 
knew,  but  I  know  I  felt  a  decided  relief  when, 
after  five  minutes  of  exquisite  agony,  the  flunky 
reappeared  as  suddenly  and  much  more  silently 
than  a  jack-in-the-box,  and  clapping  his  heels  to 
gether,  held  open  the  door  with  one  hand,  saluted 
with  the  other,  and  announced  in  a  loud  voice : 

"  His  excellency  will  receive  Captain  Brussel." 

Now  I  was  in  for  it,  and  despite  my  hopes  for 


236         THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

the  immediate  future  I  felt  like  one  who  had  been 
called  to  execution  as  I  arose  and  followed  the 
man,  calm  enough  as  to  appearance,  no  doubt, 
though  by  my  tingling  cheeks  I  was  aware  that 
the  blood  was  leaving  them. 


CHAPTER  XXI 

THIN   ICE 

AS  I  walked  along  the  spacious  hall  I  men 
tally  figured  on  my  chances  if  I  were  com 
pelled  to  make  a  break  for  liberty.    They 
were  small.     Beside  the  two  sentries  at  the  front 
entrance  there  was  another  at  the  door  I  was  ap 
proaching,   and,  moreover,  there  was  the  over 
dressed    flunky,    who    was    a   big   man.     No,    I 
should  never  be  able  to  escape  by  running;  if  dis 
covered,  I  was  lost. 

The  room  I  entered  was  a  large  one,  brilliantly 
lighted  and  luxuriously  furnished;  its  high  ceiling 
paneled  and  its  walls  richly  decorated.  The 
impression  I  received  was  of  grandeur,  but  my 
direct  attention  was  given  to  the  man  who  sat  be 
hind  a  broad  mahogany  table  placed  in  the  center 
of  the  apartment  and  under  a  crystal  chandelier, 
the  candles  of  which  had  been  recently  renewed. 

The  vagaries  of  the  human  mind  are  strange; 
at  that  moment,  and  while  my  life  was  at  stake,  my 
brain  stooped  to  take  cognizance  of  the  two  dozen 
candles  being  consumed,  and  I  thought  of  the  bill 
the  king  must  pay  for  this  reckless  burning  of  wax 
and  tallow. 

237 


238          THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

But  my  mind  did  not  wander  for  many  seconds. 
Pulling  myself  up  into  a  martial  stride,  I  went  over 
the  thick  carpet  to  where  sat  General  Gage,  Gov 
ernor  of  Massachusetts  and  commander-in-chief  of 
the  British  forces  in  America. 

I  was  impressed  by  the  man,  and  favorably  im 
pressed,  for,  though  an  enemy,  a  glance  showed 
him  to  be  a  gentleman,  that  is,  a  gentleman  ac 
cording  to  the  test  of  the  touchstone  of  aristocracy, 
which  takes  account  of  manners  but  not  of  morals. 
Not  that  General  Gage  was  a  grossly  immoral 
man ;  in  that  respect  he  was  probably  no  worse  than 
others  of  his  station  in  life.  Undoubtedly  he  was 
looked  upon  as  an  honorable  man  else  Dench 
would  not  have  feared  him  and  compared  him  to 
Hutchinson.  As  for  his  outward  refinement,  that 
was  clear  enough. 

He  was  in  undress  uniform,  and  his  sword,  with 
its  belt  wrapped  round  it,  lay  on  the  end  of  the 
table.  Near  him,  but  at  a  separate  table,  sat  his 
secretary,  his  back  toward  me,  his  body  bent  far 
forward.  I  have  an  idea  that  he  was  asleep,  but 
to  the  casual  observer  he  might  have  appeared  to 
be  at  work. 

No  one  else  was  in  the  room. 

When  within  a  pace  or  two  of  Gage,  I  halted 
with  military  precision  and  saluted.  The  general 
looked  up,  his  smooth  forehead  contracting. 

"  This  is  Captain  Lawrence  Brussel?  "  he  asked 
in  a  low  voice. 


THIN  ICE  239 

11  Yes,  Your  Excellency." 

"  You  have  been  wounded !  "  he  exclaimed.  "  I 
did  not  know  that !  When  ?  " 

"  During  the  late  action  at  Charlestown,"  I  an 
swered,  the  strength  of  my  voice  increasing  with 
my  confidence.  "  But,  sir,  the  wound  is  hardly 
an  inconvenience  now,  and  never  was  serious." 

"  I  am  glad  to  hear  it,"  he  replied.  "  It  was 
somewhat  uncertain  about  you  having  returned! 
Colonel  Dalrymple,  who  has  but  just  left  me, 
rather  thought  you  had  not." 

I  started  at  my  narrow  escape,  a  start  fortu 
nately  not  noticed  by  Gage,  but  was  now  certain 
that  my  identity  was  unsuspected.  This  gave  me 
confidence.  As  the  general  paused  I  thought  he 
might  be  expecting  something  from  me,  and  so 
spoke. 

"  I  did  not  meet  Colonel  Dalrymple,  Your  Ex 
cellency.  I  returned  from  Hog  Island  hardly  two 
hours  ago,  and  was  about  to  report  when  I  re 
ceived  your  summons." 

"Hog  Island!"  exclaimed  Gage,  sitting  up. 
"Have  you  been  on  Hog  Island?" 

"  Yes,  Your  Excellency." 

"  Why,  sir,  Colonel  Dalrymple  thought  you 
were  at  Castle  Island  and  sent  for  you  there 
this  morning,  but  the  commander  knew  nothing  of 
you.  It  was  by  the  way  of  taking  a  chance  that  I 
sent  for  you  at  your  uncle's  house." 

Here  was  an  unexpected  flaw  in  the  wind,  but  I 


24o         THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

at  once  trimmed  my  sails  to  it.  I  am  fairly  quick 
witted  at  a  pinch,  thank  God. 

"  Yes,  sir,"  I  replied.  "  I  went  to  Castle  Wil 
liam  but  did  not  report,  and  at  once  proceeded  to 
Hog  Island,  as,  being  on  leave,  I  thought  I  had  a 
right  to  do." 

"  Ah !     And  why  to  Hog  Island  ?  " 

"  Your  Excellency,  there  is  a  lady  there, 
and—" 

"  I  think  I  see,"  he  interrupted. 

"  I  went  on  her  account,"  I  finished,  not  know 
ing  what  else  to  say. 

"  Yes?  Well,  perhaps  it  is  fortunate  you  did," 
was  the  astonishing  reply.  "  And  what  are  the 
conditions  there?  " 

"  It  is  quiet,  Your  Excellency." 

"  We  have  no  force  there.  Do  you  think  one 
is  necessary?  " 

"  Not  on  Hog  Island;  there  is  little  need.  But 
Noddles  Island  could  be  of  some  use,  it  having 
both  cattle  and  grain,  whereas  Hog  Island  has 
but  little  of  either,"  I  replied,  having  in  mind 
Brussel's  letter. 

"  Well,  Captain  Brussel,"  said  Gage,  settling 
himself,  "  it  is  upon  this  very  business  that  I  sent 
for  you.  I  have  received  your  application 
through  Commissioner  Loring,  but  how  I  will  act 
upon  it  will  be  determined  by  the  manner  in  which 
you  do  your  duty.  Are  you  willing  to  cut  your 
leave  and  return  to  service?  " 


THIN  ICE  241 

I  do  not  know  if  my  face  betrayed  my  per 
plexity,  but  I  am  sure  my  voice  did  not.  I  was 
aware  that  I  was  skating  on  extremely  thin  ice, 
and  at  any  moment  it  might  break  under  me.  All 
I  knew  for  a  certainty  was  that  up  to  that  minute 
Gage  had  no  suspicion  as  to  my  identity.  To  his 
question  there  was  but  one  answer  I  dared  make, 
and  I  promptly  gave  it. 

"  Yes,  Your  Excellency." 

"  It  is  because  I  am  told  that  though  you  ob 
tained  your  commission  in  England  you  are 
colonial  born  and  have  lived  for  many  years  in 
the  vicinity  of  Boston  and  are  familiar  with  the 
surrounding  country  that  I  have  picked  you  out. 
Am  I  right?" 

"  I  know  the  country  well,  Your  Excellency." 

'  That  makes  it  possible  for  you  to  serve  his 
majesty  better  than  most  men.  Do  you  know  the 
exact  location  of  Danforth's  mill?  " 

"  On  Noddles  Island?  Yes,  Your  Excellency, 
I  know  it." 

This  was  no  lie,  Danforth  being  on  the  north 
ern  extremity  —  owner  of  one  of  the  windmills 
of  which  the  islands  in  the  bay,  as  well  as  the 
mainland,  had  not  a  few. 

"Good!"  returned  Gage.  "I  have  received 
word  that  it  is  stored  with  grain  intended  for  the 
rebels.  I  wish  to  secure  it,  and  the  cattle  on  the 
island  as  well.  Since  this  rebellion  has  broken 
out,  I  am  loath  to  trust  one  not  in  his  majesty's 


242          THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

service;  but,  sir,  you  have  both  the  knowledge  re 
quired  and  the  proper  uniform." 

He  paused  and  took  snuff,  brushing  the  super 
fluous  grains  from  the  lace  of  his  cuff,  then  con 
tinued: 

"  Sir,  will  you  volunteer  to  do  duty  first  as  a 
guide?" 

For  an  instant  my  heart  seemed  to  cease  beat 
ing.  Had  the  man  before  me  offered  me  a  million 
pounds  I  could  not  have  been  more  surprised  and 
elated. 

Act  as  a  guide  !  That  meant  getting  beyond  the 
lines  without  risk.  But  what  was  I  expected  to 
guide?  A  force  against  my  countrymen? 

The  thought  sobered  me;  but,  with  my  usual 
headlong  precipitation,  and  with  the  hope  that  my 
wits  might  show  me  a  way  out  of  my  dilemma,  I 
answered  that  my  duty  to  my  king  forebade  me 
to  hesitate  offering  myself  for  any  service  he,  or 
those  in  authority,  desired. 

"  Very  good,  Captain!  "  said  Gage.  "  I  trust, 
and  I  believe,  you  will  acquit  yourself.  Your  first 
duty  will  be  one  of  no  danger  and  requires  no  dis 
cretion  on  your  part.  I  have  decided  to  occupy 
Noddles  Island,  and  wish  you  to  guide  a  detach 
ment  there." 

"When,  General?"  I  asked,  as  he  hesitated. 

"  This  very  night,  sir.  The  expedition  starts 
at  one  o'clock  from  Hancock's  wharf.  It  is  short 
notice,  but  it  becomes  necessary.  You  will  de- 


THIN  ICE  243 

liver  your  written  orders  to  the  officer  in  charge. 
He  will  obey  you  until  you  land,  at  which  time  you 
may  consider  yourself  relieved  and  will  proceed  to 
act  in  another  matter  —  one  which  will  make  de 
mands  on  your  courage  and  judgment.  Do  you 
begin  to  comprehend?  " 

"  Thus  far,  entirely,  Your  Excellency." 

"  I  am  afraid  you  do  not,"  he  returned.  "  I 
am  asking  you  to  act  in  the  capacity  of  a  spy. 
Are  you  willing?  " 

As  his  scheme  opened  it  was  all  I  could  do  to 
conceal  my  satisfaction,  but  I  held  myself  erect 
and  motionless  and,  as  he  looked  sharply  at  me,  I 
hesitated  only  long  enough  to  give  effect  to  my 
answer. 

"  I  will  do  anything  Your  Excellency  desires," 
I  said. 

"  Then,  sir,  after  guiding  the  force  to  the  mill, 
you  will  get  to  the  mainland  in  any  way  you  can, 
penetrate  the  rebel  camp,  determine  their  numbers, 
their  disposition,  their  spirit,  and,  if  possible,  their 
intentions,  and  return  to  me  as  soon  as  may  be. 
If  you  are  successful,  I  think,  sir,  I  can  guaran 
tee  you  the  post  you  desire." 

"  I  thank  Your  Excellency,"  I  replied,  bowing 
and  hoping  he  would  say  no  more  about  a  post 
I  certainly  did  not  desire,  nor  did  I  know  what  it 
might  be  that  Brussel  coveted.  This  was  a  rock 
on  which  I  was  liable  to  split.  But  Gage  did  not 
pursue  the  subject.  Without  turning  in  his  chair 


244         THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

he  raised  his  voice  and  called:  "  Willoughby," 
at  which  the  sleepy  secretary  started  as  if  shot, 
swinging  around  and  showing  a  pair  of  drowsy 
eyes. 

"  Take  down,"  said  Gage.  The  secretary  be 
came  very  much  alive  and  seized  a  quill;  Gage  di 
rected  without  a  pause : 

Captain  Winterburn  —  These  will  be  the  credentials 
of  Captain  Lawrence  Brussel.  You  will  put  yourself 
under  his  orders  until  you  reach  Noddles  Island,  at  which 
point  you  will  resume  command. 

You  will  then  obey  verbal  instructions  as  already  given 
and  seize  the  grain  in  Danforth's  mill,  also  any  horses, 
cattle  and  sheep  as  may  be  found  on  the  island,  and  such 
matter  as  may  become  necessary  to  the  king's  military 
service.  And  for  so  doing  this  will  be  your  warrant. 
You  will  then  remain,  holding  the  island  for  the  king  until 
reenforced  or  relieved. 

The  secretary  brought  the  finished  paper  and 
laid  it  before  Gage,  who  signed  it  with  a  flourish, 
folded  it,  and  handed  it  to  me. 

'  You  will  find  Captain  Winterburn  at  Han 
cock's  wharf,"  he  said,  pulling  at  his  lace  cuffs. 
"  You  may  also  find  there  will  be  a  passenger. 
Of  that  I  am  not  sure;  but  you  are  in  no  way  re 
sponsible  to  or  for  him.  You  will  leave  Han 
cock's  wharf  at  one  o'clock,  and  not  later.  In 
the  meantime  you  had  better  report  to  Colonel 
Dalrymple." 

I  will  be  likely  to,  was  my  mental  return,  but  in 
voice  I  answered: 


THIN  ICE  245, 

"Yes,  sir,  but—" 

"  But  what,  Captain?" 

"  In  view  of  my  mission  to  the  mainland  I 
would  return  to  my  uncle's  house  and  obtain 
civilian's  clothing  as  a  disguise.  I  will  hardly 
have  time  to  report." 

"  True,"  replied  Gage;  then,  after  a  moment  of 
musing,  he  looked  up  at  me.  "  Captain  Brus- 
sel,  that  reminds  me  of  a  question  I  would  ask. 
What  do  you  know  of  the  prisoner  I  understand 
you  captured  yonder?  " 

He  jerked  his  head  in  the  direction  of  Charles- 
town. 

"  Colonel  Dalrymple  has  told  me  something  of 
his  having  escaped  after  killing  his  guard  and 
tying  him  to  your  hound.  How  is  it,  sir,  that  you 
happened  to  have  a  hound  in  barracks?  Are  you 
not  aware  of  the  regulations?  What  was  the 
prisoner  doing  where  he  was  found?  Can  you 
tell  me?" 

In  the  face  of  Loring's  letter  to  the  effect  that 
Gage  knew  nothing  of  the  tragedy  this  came  as  a 
terrific  facer;  but  before  I  could  gather  my  shat 
tered  wits  and  frame  some  kind  of  an  answer, 
Gage  leaned  forward  and  struck  a  bell  on  the 
table.  Instantly  the  door  flew  open  and  an  or 
derly  appeared. 

"  My  compliments  to  Colonel  Dalrymple,  and 
tell  him  I  would  like  to  see  him  at  once,"  said  the 
general  to  the  man;  then  he  again  turned  to  me. 


246         THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

"  Now,  Captain,  we  will  clear  this  matter,  and  at 
the  same  time  obviate  the  necessity  of  your  going 
out  of  your  way  to  report." 

Was  there  to  be  no  end  to  this?  Here  was  an 
other  thunderclap  out  of  a  clear  sky.  I  was  fairly 
staggered  at  the  thought  of  meeting  Colonel  Dal- 
rymple,  but  now,  having  gone  thus  far,  it  was  no 
time  for  me  to  hesitate.  I  must  plunge.  The 
orderly  had  received  his  orders,  but  he  had  not 
been  formally  dismissed  on  his  errand  and  still 
stood  rigidly  by  the  door.  Gage  appeared  to  have 
forgotten  him.  I  cleared  my  throat,  but  for  a 
moment  I  could  not  speak. 

"Well,  sir?"  said  Gage,  with  a  trifle  of  as 
perity  in  his  voice.  Had  he  seen  the  picture  I 
drew  in  my  mind  he  would  have  had  out  his  fine 
sword  and  cut  me  down  then  and  there. 

"  Your  Excellency,"  I  replied,  getting  a  hold  on 
myself,  "  I  thought  the  hound  was  dead.  I  in 
structed  my  orderly  to  shoot  it,  sir.  As  for  the 
prisoner,  regarding  him  I  am  mystified;  this  is  the 
first  I  have  heard  of  his  escape.  Commissioner 
Loring  had  him  in  charge." 

I  considered  this  as  neat. 

"  Very  true,"  replied  Gage,  and,  turning  to  the 
orderly,  he  said:  "  You  will  also  notify  Commis 
sioner  Loring  to  come  at  once  to  Provence  House. 
Go,  sir." 

The  man  saluted  and  went  out;  Gage  turned  to 
me. 


THIN  ICE  247 

"  I  feel  that  there  is  a  crooked  spot  in  this  mat 
ter,  and  it  is  to  your  advantage  to  have  it  cleared, 
sir.  I  think  you  will  have  time  to  go  to  your 
uncle's  and  return  before  proceeding  to  your 
rendezvous.  Hurry  back,  Captain." 

It  was  with  inexpressible  relief  that  I  heard  his 
last  words;  but  they  did  not  make  me  safe,  though 
they  relieved  me  of  being  damned  as  an  impostor 
on  the  appearance  of  Colonel  Dalrymple  and 
Commissioner  Loring,  and  though  I  might  ruin 
the  latter  by  producing  his  letter  to  Brussel,  it 
would  serve  no  purpose  of  mine. 

I  must  get  from  Boston,  and  at  once.  But  how  ? 
The  chances  were  that  on  my  protracted  absence 
search  would  be  made  for  me,  Dench's  house  thor 
oughly  probed,  the  old  man  discovered,  my  identity 
made  clear,  Letty  ruined  for  assisting  me,  and  the 
dogs  of  war  set  on  my  trail;  and  all  the  margin  I 
had  was  the  time  it  would  take  for  Colonel  Dal 
rymple  to  arrive  and  the  hour  for  my  reappear 
ance  at  Provence  House  to  pass. 

For  a  moment  I  was  shaken  —  almost  panic- 
stricken,  but  Gage's  voice  brought  me  to  myself. 
There  was  not  the  least  sign  of  suspicion  in  his 
words,  and  they  opened  my  way  to  freedom  and 
safety. 

"  By  the  way,  Captain,  you  may  need  a  pass 
through  our  lines  when  you  return,  especially  if 
you  are  hurried;  but  I  am  loath  to  give  you  one, 
as  such  a  paper  found  on  you,  were  you  captured 


248          THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

by  the  rebels,  would  be  a  sentence  of  death.  I 
hear  they  have  a  new  commander,  a  Mr.  Wash 
ington,  who  once  served  the  king  under  the  la 
mented  Braddock.  I  understand  he  is  something 
of  a  soldier,  and  a  spy  is  a  soldier's  bane.  Were 
I  he  I  would  have  you  hanged.  But  I  will  give 
you  a  pass,  if  you  insist." 

If  the  man  had  been  the  least  suspicious  he 
might  have  questioned  my  eagerness  and  caught 
the  double  meaning  of  my  words.  As  if  a  stone 
had  been  rolled  from  my  chest,  I  replied : 

"  General,  when  the  rebels  catch  me,  which 
they  will  not  do,  they  will  quickly  discover  that 
I  am  a  rebel  spy,  fresh  from  the  British  lines." 

I  forced  a  laugh  as  I  spoke. 

"  And,  sir,"  I  continued,  "  when  I  tell  them  that 
I  was  bright  enough  to  hoodwink  Your  Excel 
lency  and  obtain  a  pass  I  will  have  their  applause. 
I  shall  have  my  story  ready  for  them.  I  know 
that  gentry,  sir;  they  are  easily  gulled.  As  for 
Mr.  Washington,  I  know  nothing  of  him,  but  I 
would  to  Heaven,  sir,  that  he  and  Your  Excel 
lency  measure  swords  in  the  near  future." 

By  this  time  Gage  was  writing  rapidly,  but  I 
saw  the  ghost  of  a  smile  of  satisfaction  at  the  cor 
ners  of  his  rather  serious  mouth. 

"  I  think  I  have  made  a  wise  choice,  and  that 
you  are  bright  enough  to  carry  you  through," 
he  said,  folding  the  pass  and  handing  it  to  me. 
"  It  is  something  of  a  pity  that  you  are  colonial 


THIN  ICE  249 

born,  else  I  might  help  you  to  a  better  office  than 
the  one  you  ask  for.  There,  sir,  make  what  haste 
you  can.  I  shall  look  for  your  return  in  an  hour." 
I  had  no  reply  to  this,  nor  was  a  reply  neces 
sary;  moreover,  I  felt  that  I  had  said  enough. 
With  a  feeling  of  intense  relief  I  bowed  low, 
placed  order  and  pass  in  my  pocket,  saluted  in 
form,  and  pivoting  on  my  heels,  fairly  ran  from  the 
room. 


CHAPTER  XXII 


AS  I  went  out  into  the  warm,  still  night  I 
felt  like  a  man  recovering  from  a  fit  of  ill 
ness.  For  a  few  minutes  my  knees  fairly 
shook,  and  though  I  was  aware  that  haste  was 
necessary,  I  could  not  hurry. 

But  the  air  soon  braced  me  and  brought  my 
frayed  nerves  into  something  like  normal  order, 
though  for  a  time  I  was  anything  but  the  Devil  I 
had  been  named. 

My  way  was  now  clear  to  place  myself  beyond 
the  zone  of  danger;  but  as  I  walked  along  I 
thought  of  Letty.  Was  I  to  run  and  leave  the 
negress  to  suffer?  I  could  not  do  it  without  for 
ever  damning  myself  as  a  coward.  She  had  prac 
tically  twice  saved  my  life,  and  had  she  wished  she 
could  have  betrayed  me  on  my  return  that  day 
and  been  rewarded.  Should  I  sacrifice  her  now? 
Her  position  would  be  known  as  soon  as  Dench 
was  found  and  she  would  be  made  to  suffer  certain 
destruction.  Nay,  by  Heaven,  I  could  not  leave 
her  unconsidered  and  unprotected,  and  retain  my 
self-respect.  I  would  give  her  the  pass  and  tell 
her  to  get  from  Boston;  as  for  myself,  I  might  not 

250 


MOON  EMERGES  251 

need  the  paper;  at  all  events,  I  must  make  a  shift 
to  do  without  it. 

Moreover,  if  the  factor  of  time  would  but  serve 
I  could  do  better  than  run;  I  might  still  reach  Han 
cock's  wharf  before  my  status  was  discovered,  and 
I  had  a  mighty  reason  for  wishing  to  guide  Cap 
tain  Winterburn.  The  thing  came  to  me  like  a 
burst  of  light. 

And  now  I  figured  on  that  item  of  time,  and 
figured  closely.  It  was  then  nearly  a  quarter  after 
eleven,  for  I  had  marked  the  clock  in  the  hall  of 
Provence  House  as  I  passed  out.  Neither  Col 
onel  Dalrymple  nor  Loring  would  be  likely  to  see 
Gage  before  twelve,  and  then  there  would  be  no 
suspicion  of  the  fraud  practiced  until  some  time 
later.  A  soldier  would  eventually  be  sent  to  de 
termine  the  cause  of  my  delayed  return  to  Prov 
ence  House,  and  before  he  could  report  and  action 
against  me  could  be  taken  it  would  be  past  one 
and  the  expedition  well  on  its  way  under  my  com 
mand.  I  would  see  to  the  rest. 

Of  course  there  were  chances  that  something 
might  go  wrong;  that  went  without  saying;  but 
with  my  campaign  now  clear  before  me,  and 
formed  as  I  walked,  I  hastened  my  steps.  I  had 
repassed  the  Granary  burying-ground,  which  was 
silent  now,  and  the  guard  withdrawn,  and  was 
walking  rapidly,  when  upon  turning  a  corner,  I 
came  upon  two  soldiers,  having  between  them  a 
civilian  evidently  under  arrest,  a  third  soldier,  car- 


252         THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

rying  a  blazing  link,  walking  ahead.  Ordinarily 
I  would  not  have  looked  twice  at  this  quartette, 
but  something  about  the  prisoner  caught  my  eye 
and,  as  the  torch  flared  up  and  brought  out  his 
features,  I  halted  abruptly. 

For  the  escorted  man  was  none  other  than  Jacob 
Moon. 

Had  he  been  my  own  father  I  could  hardly  have 
been  more  taken  aback.  He  looked  much  the 
same  as  when  I  last  saw  him,  though  his  clothing 
was  disarranged  as  if  from  a  struggle,  and  his  hat 
was  missing,  thus  displaying  his  long,  queueless 
white  hair.  This  last,  I  believe,  was  what  had 
attracted  my  attention.  His  face  was  serious, 
but  displayed  no  fear.  He  looked  at  me,  but  it 
was  plain  that,  dressed  as  I  was,  he  did  not  know 
me. 

I  have  said  that  many  times  I  have  been  moved 
by  instinct  alone,  and  now  it  was  that  I  again  came 
under  the  domination  of  that  sixth  sense  about 
which  so  little  is  understood.  I  do  not  know  what 
possessed  me  —  certainly  not  a  hope  of  being  able 
to  help  the  old  man  —  but  standing  surprised  as  I 
was,  I  spoke  out  sharply  as  the  soldiers  saluted 
and  the  party  was  about  to  pass.  "Halt!"  I 
cried.  They  came  to  a  dead  stop. 

"  Who  have  you  there?  "  I  asked,  with  the  su 
perior  and  domineering  air  I  had  often  noticed 
as  the  attitude  of  superior  toward  inferior.  It 
was  the  torch-bearer  who  answered. 


MOON  EMERGES  253 

"  A  suspect,  sir." 

"Suspected  of  what,  fellow?"  I  demanded, 
moving  into  the  light  that  Moon  might  recognize 
me. 

"  He  was  sneakin'  round  the  Copps  Hill  battery, 
sir,  and  could  give  no  account  of  himself.  He  has 
a  street  permit,  but  we  think  it  not  a  good  one, 
sir,  and  we  be  takin'  him  to  the  provost  that  he 
may  be  proved." 

"  Ha !  "  said  I,  seeing  a  possible  opening;  "  let 
me  see  that  pass." 

Now  I  was  to  learn  what  weight  an  officer's 
word  would  bear,  and  though  I  took  a  risk,  I  could 
not  see  old  Jacob  go  to  what  would  be  certain 
death  without  an  attempt  to  save  him.  There 
was  no  officer  among  his  captors,  not  even  a  cor 
poral,  and  I  guessed  they  were  of  the  night  patrol. 
To  my  infinite  relief  the  soldier  neither  questioned 
my  right  to  command  him  nor  did  he  hesitate  to 
obey.  Fishing  round  in  his  pocket  he  brought 
forth  a  paper  and  held  it  out  to  me.  I  read  it  by 
the  light  of  the  link  he  lowered,  and  saw  it  was 
drawn  to  one  Cyrus  Elliot,  but  I  did  not  attempt 
to  read  it  through,  my  mind  being  made  up  and 
there  being  no  time  to  waste. 

I  looked  fixedly  at  Moon  and  in  a  moment 
marked  his  eyes  widen;  then  I  was  aware  that  he 
knew  me.  I  spoke  sharply  to  the  soldier: 

"  So  this  is  the  way  you  respect  an  official  pass !  " 
I  said,  raising  my  voice  as  if  in  anger.  "  I  hap- 


254         THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

pened  to  be  in  the  room  when  this  was  issued  to 
Mr.  Elliot,  and  I  will  vouch  for  his  truth  and 
loyalty.  He  is  out  on  a  mission  from  headquar 
ters,  and  his  excellency  will  not  thank  you  for  the 
blunder  you  have  made.  To  what  regiment  do 
you  belong?  " 

"  Dublin  Grays,  sir,"  answered  the  spokesman, 
with  an  air  of  shrinking. 

"  Very  well,  my  man;  report  that  Captain  Brus- 
sel,  of  Colonel  Dalrymple's  regiment,  has  taken 
charge  of  your  prisoner.  Were  you  on  patrol?  " 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  Then  off  with  you,  and  thank  me  that  I  do 
not  make  you  suffer  for  your  stupidity.  March." 

Though  I  do  not  believe  the  men  doubted  my 
identity,  I  do  think  they  were  suspicious  of  the 
regularity  of  this  high-handed  proceeding.  How 
ever,  they  fell  away  from  Moon,  though  somewhat 
reluctantly,  and  finally  marched  off;  but  not  in  the 
direction  from  which  they  came;  without  a  doubt 
in  my  mind,  they  went  on  to  report  on  how  they 
had  taken  and  lost  their  prisoner. 

Here  was  no  place  to  talk  to  Moon.  Passing 
him,  I  said:  "  Follow  me,  Jacob;  "  and  went  on, 
he  returning  no  word  though  I  saw  he  understood, 
albeit  he  was  a  bit  dazed  by  the  sudden  turn  in  his 
fortunes.  It  would  not  do  to  squander  a  moment, 
and  I  hurried  along,  hearing  him  behind  me. 

On  arriving  at  Dench's  house  I  knocked  loudly 
and  thought  Letty  would  never  open  the  door,  but 


MOON  EMERGES  255 

she  came  at  last,  dull  and  sleepy-eyed,  having  been 
abed,  and  I  whisked  into  the  house,  followed  by 
Jacob,  after  which  I  closed  and  barred  the  door. 

"  Is  there  anything  new?  Has  the  squire  made 
a  racket?  "  I  asked  the  sleep-dulled  negress. 

"  No,  sah,  nobody  been  here  an'  de  squire  he 
doan  make  a  soun',''  she  answered. 

"  Very  good;  then  get  ready  to  leave  here  at 
once;  you  are  in  danger." 

"  Fo'  de  Lawd!"  she  began,  becoming  fully 
awake;  but  I  stopped  her  outcry  by  saying: 
"  Letty,  get  ready  to  go  to  your  brother.  You 
must  start  to-night." 

With  that  I  left  her  abruptly,  taking  Moon  by 
the  arm  and  leading  him  into  the  office. 

'  Jacob,"  I  said  when  we  were  alone,  "  I  know 
not  that  I  have  done  you  more  of  a  favor  than 
postpone  your  hanging,  or  hang  with  you  if  we  are 
caught.  I  am  dancing  on  a  hot  griddle  at  this  mo 
ment.  My  story  is  more  important  than  yours. 
Sit  down." 

So,  with  as  few  words  as  possible,  I  ran  through 
what  had  happened  since  I  saw  him.  The  old 
man  did  not  turn  a  hair  at  the  desperate  situation 
the  end  of  my  story  showed  us  to  be  in;  instead 
he  smiled  broadly. 

"  Well,  son,  ye  have  no  lack  o'  wits  in  a  delicate 
muss,  an'  ye  be  more  than  quits  with  me  for  the 
little  I  have  done  for  ye.  Ye  have  no  call  to  take 
me  on  yer  shoulders  from  this  on,  seein'  ye  have 


256         THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

about  all  ye  can  carry,  an'  I  be  safe  enough.     But 
I  am  fain  to  quit  Boston,  having  found  out  all  I 
came  for,  that  being  that  Gage  is  more  scared  of 
us  than  we  of  him." 
1      "  And  how  did  you  get  that  permit?  "  I  asked. 

"  By  throttling  the  man  who  held  it.  I  know 
naught  of  him  save  that  his  name  is  Elliot,  and 
that  on  his  sleeve  he  wore  the  white  band  of 
Ruggles's  Pups,  being  one  of  the  citizen  soldiers. 
I  gave  him  little  chance.  His  body  may  be  found 
floating  somewhere  in  the  bay." 

"When  was  this?" 

"  Three  days  agone,  my  lad.  I  got  in  by  way 
of  a  small  boat  from  Lechmere's  Point,  but  had 
to  abandon  her;  now  'tis  hard  to  get  out  of  the 
place.  But  we  have  been  talkin'  over  long;  ye  had 
best  be  off  on  yer  mission." 

"Ay,"  said  I;  "but  I'll  first  have  a  look  at 
Dench ;  he  must  be  in  sore  need  of  air." 

So  I  opened  the  concealed  door,  old  Jacob 
widening  his  eyes  as  he  saw  a  segment  of  the 
bookcase  come  away  from  the  wall. 

Dench  was  where  I  had  left  him,  his  head  now 
hanging  so  that  his  chin  rested  on  his  chest.  As 
he  took  no  notice  of  the  candle  I  carried  I  at  first 
thought  him  asleep,  then  that  he  was  dead  from 
suffocation,  though  the  air  of  the  apartment  was 
hardly  foul  enough  to  kill  him,  being  only  hot  and 
close. 

However,  I  soon  discovered  him  to  be  alive, 


MOON  EMERGES  257 

for  he  breathed,  though  but  faintly.  And  alive 
was  about  all  I  could  say  for  him,  as  I  quickly 
saw  the  cause  of  his  apparent  indifference.  When 
I  lifted  his  head  I  knew  him  to  be  totally  uncon 
scious,  though  his  bleared  eyes  were  open,  and 
when  I  loosened  his  bonds  —  which  I  did  for  hu 
manity's  sake  —  I  knew  why.  I  had  my  suspi 
cions  at  once,  and  on  prodding  him  with  the 
point  of  a  steel  paper-file  I  determined  that  the 
old  man  had  fallen  a  victim  to  his  age  and  pas 
sions. 

For  he  was  paralyzed,  having  been  stricken  by 
an  apoplexy,  and  a  child  might  have  seen  he  was 
past  all  help,  his  face  being  hideously  drawn.  I 
looked  inquiringly  at  Jacob  as  together  we  lifted 
him  to  the  haircloth  sofa. 

"  I  think  the  Lord  has  been  good  to  ye,  my 
son,"  he  said.  "  Now,  had  I  been  in  your  shoes, 
it  is  like  I  would  have  knocked  him  on  the  head 
long  since;  but  ye  have  escaped  the  necessity  of 
getting  rid  of  him.  And  now  what?  " 

"Now  what!  Why,  Jacob,"  I  exclaimed, 
"  this  means  the  way  out  for  you !  With  this  old 
devil's  tongue  forever  tied  there  is  no  danger  to 
Letty,  so  you  may  take  the  pass  and  run  for  it. 
I  shall  go  the  way  I  intended;  there  is  yet  time, 
though  we  have  spent  much.  I  can  be  at  Han 
cock's  wharf  in  less  than  half  an  hour;  and  I  am 
not  yet  suspected." 

"  Why  not  use  the  pass  yerself  an'  give  me  the 


25 8          THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

letter  of  instruction?  'Tis  the  safer  way  for  ye, 
my  son  —  an'  ye  have  risked  enough." 

"  Because,  Jacob,"  said  I,  now  giving  voice  to 
the  matter  which  had  boiled  in  my  brain  from  the 
moment  I  was  told  to  act  as  a  guide  to  Danforth's 
mill,  "  because  there  is  that  little  lady  you  wot 
of !  I  am  not  going  to  desert  her !  Listen  to  me. 
She  is  with  that  villain  Brussel,  whose  part  I  am 
playing  — " 

"  An'  they  be  on  Hog  Island?  " 

"Ay,  on  Hog  Island!  But,  Jacob,  if  that 
British  captain  was  at  all  acquainted  with  the  bay 
he  would  need  no  guide;  as  he  does,  by  the  Lord 
above  me !  if  he  doesn't  find  himself  on  Hog  Is 
land,  believing  it  to  be  Noddles,  it  will  be  because 
something  untoward  happens  to  me.  I  would  face 
the  devil  I  was  named  for  rather  than  miss  this 
chance  of  meeting  Larry  Brussel!  Dost  see?  " 

The  old  man  clapped  his  great  hands  together. 
"  Ay,  I  see !  "  he  almost  shouted.  "  I  would 
that  I  might  be  with  ye !  Could  ye  not  arrange 
it?" 

I  did  not  answer  him,  for  at  that  instant  there 
came  a  knock  on  the  front  door.  We  both  started 
to  our  feet. 

"  Lord,  boy!  "  said  Jacob,  lowering  his  raised 
voice;  "they  be  hot  on  the  trail  of  one  of  us! 
Out  of  the  window  with  ye  —  I'll  attend  to  the 
caller." 

"  God  bless  you,  Jacob!  "  I  said,  squeezing  his 


MOON  EMERGES  259 

hand,  after  hurriedly  thrusting  into  it  Gage's  pass. 
"  Explain  to  Letty  that  she  is  now  in  no  danger, 
but  must  wait  before  going  to  her  brother. 
You  — " 

Another  violent  knock  interrupted  me.  I  heard 
the  negress  tramping  up  the  stairs,  and  Jacob 
snatched  up  the  candle  and  ran  from  the  room  to 
intercept  her;  then  he  went  to  the  door  and  threw 
off  the  bar,  while  I  stood  in  the  now  dark  office 
ready  to  run  to  the  window,  though  for  the  mo 
ment  having  a  full  view  of  the  hall,  and  I  thought 
Moon  would  never  open  the  front  door. 

The  man  who  entered  was  not  the  soldier  I 
feared  and  expected,  but  an  officer,  nevertheless. 
He  was  stout  and  puffing  from  hurry,  and  his  red 
face  fairly  glowed  in  the  light  of  the  candle  Moon 
held  up. 

"  Captain  Brussel  —  I  wish  to  see  Captain 
Brussel  at  once !  Get  him  out  of  bed,  if  he's  in 
it.  I've  got  to  see  him.  I  am  Commissioner  Lor- 
ing,  sir.  Do  you  understand?  " 

The  words  seemed  to  be  blown  in  explosive  puffs 
from  between  his  thick  lips.  This  was  too  much 
for  me;  I  would  rather  have  faced  a  file  of  soldiers 
than  the  British  commissioner  of  prisoners,  and 
without  waiting  to  hear  more,  I  ran  to  the  window 
and  put  out  a  leg,  my  eye  in  its  last  sweep  taking 
in  the  few  visible  details  of  the  room  which  I  never 
saw  again,  Bench's  house  being  one  of  the  few 
fired  by  a  shell  from  an  American  battery,  and 


260         THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

totally  destroyed.  However,  I  mentally  recon 
structed  it  when,  a  year  later,  I  recovered  the  gold 
buried  under  the  pavement. 

Very  quietly  I  lowered  myself  to  the  ground, 
but  instead  of  going  through  the  gate  I  scaled  the 
fence  and,  as  I  dropped  on  its  further  side,  it  ' 
came  to  me  that  I  had  not  obtained  my  own  clothes. 
I  was  still  dressed  as  a  British  officer,  and  it  was 
too  late  to  return  to  the  house. 

I  really  cared  but  little  as  I  hurried  off.  Twice 
I  met  with  the  provost  patrol,  but  my  scarlet  coat 
saved  me  from  challenge.  By  this  I  had  a  good 
grip  on  myself,  and  with  returned  confidence  was 
really  enjoying  the  tremendous  game  I  was  play 
ing. 

Unlike  Griffith's  wharf,  Hancock's  was  far  from 
being  deserted,  as  upon  it  were  received  stores  of 
all  kinds  from  the  fleet.  The  pier  was  piled  high 
with  supplies,  from  long,  black-bodied  cannon  to 
stacked  barrels  of  flour.  At  the  land  end  there 
were  a  number  of  sentries,  but  they  only  saluted  me 
as  I  hurried  past  them.  At  the  far  end  of  the  pier 
I  came  upon  the  man  I  was  after.  He  was  walk 
ing  up  and  down,  and,  in  the  silence  of  the  hour, 
the  click  of  his  boot-heels  sounded  loudly.  Seated  ' 
on  the  string-piece  I  saw  a  civilian,  but  in  the  dark 
ness  marked  only  the  bulk  of  his  figure.  Undoubt 
edly  it  was  the  passenger  whom  Gage  had  inti 
mated  as  possibly  going  in  a  boat  and  for  whom 
I  would  not  be  responsible.  Still  beyond  him  I 


MOON  EMERGES  261 

saw  the  shadowy  outline  of  a  number  of  soldiers, 
and  I  guessed  they  were  of  the  waiting  force.  I 
took  a  long  breath  and  set  my  teeth  as  I  walked  up 
to  the  officer.  Would  he  be  acquainted  with  Brus- 
sel?  I  could  not  tell;  but  this  I  knew  —  if  he  de 
nounced  me  as  a  fraud,  he  would  find  himself  in 
the  bay,  for  I  would  strike,  and  strike  quickly  and 
hard.  Just  then  I  was  Devil  Darcy,  and  in  all 
modesty  I  think  I  justified  the  name. 


CHAPTER  XXIII 

A   GREEN   HAND 


"  X^APTAIN  WINTERBURN?  "  I  asked, 
saluting  with  one  hand,  the  other  being 

^— *    hidden  in  the  sling. 

"  Ya-as,"  he  drawled,  taking  his  pipe  from  be 
tween  his  teeth.  "And  you  are — ?" 

"  Captain  Brussel,  detailed  to  guide  you  to  Nod 
dles  Island.  I  have  just  come  from  Provence 
House,  and  have  these  orders  for  you."  I  held 
out  Gage's  letter.  The  man  knocked  the  ashes 
from  his  pipe,  and  even  in  that  light  I  could  see 
he  was  a  young  fellow. 

"  In  the  name  of  Heaven!  "  he  exclaimed  im 
patiently.  ''  I  have  been  packed  with  instructions. 
My  dear  fellow,  let  us  start  at  once  and  begin 
on  this  cursed  business.  I  am  disgusted  with  life ! 
Think  of  being  sent  off  to  an  island,  and  one  with 
such  a  name  as  Noddles,  to  bag  cattle  and  grain; 
and  I  in  new  quarters  with  my  allowance  just  ar 
rived." 

"  Go  to  Gage  with  your  plaint,"  I  returned  se 
verely.  "Is  your  command  ready?" 

"  Ay,  and  has  been  for  half  an  hour." 
262 


A  GREEN  HAND  263 

"  Then  we  will  get  off  at  once,"  I  returned. 
"  It  will  be  a  long  pull.  And  I  was  given  to  un 
derstand  by  General  Gage  that  there  might  be  a 
passenger.  Is  this  he?"  And  I  indicated  the 
figure  seated  on  the  string-piece.  He  arose  as  I 
spoke. 

"  Ay,  he  is  here,"  returned  Winterburn,  as  if 
the  matter  interested  him  but  little.  "  Captain 
Brussel,  this  is  Judge  Evers,  of  the  King's  Assize." 

That  pride  goeth  before  a  fall  is  an  old  biblical 
saw,  and  surely  with  me  its  truth  was  exemplified. 
For  not  only  did  my  overweaning  self-confidence, 
which  is  but  a  form  of  pride,  go  to  the  ground  with 
a  crash,  but  my  body  was  nigh  to  going  with  it  so 
great  was  the  shock  caused  by  the  realization  that 
I  was  almost  cheek-by-jowl  with  a  man  whom  I 
knew  must  hate  me.  But  only  hate  me  as  Allen 
Darcy;  and  my  first  feeling  was  one  of  thankful 
ness  that  it  was  so  dark  he  could  by  no  possibility 
clearly  see  my  face.  As  for  my  voice;  he  had 
heard  it  but  once  and  then  it  was  shaken  by  excite 
ment.  I  had  been  through  a  severe  school  since 
then.  It  was  the  judge  who  spoke  first. 

"  I  am  more  than  pleased  to  meet  you,  Captain," 
he  said,  shaking  the  hand  I  had  automatically 
thrust  out.  "  I  had  the  pleasure  of  enjoying  your 
uncle's  hospitality  last  night,  and  we  were  speaking 
of  you.  It  is  a  surprise  that  you  are  in  town !  " 
"Ay?"  I  managed  to  ejaculate,  swallowing 
my  heart,  which  had  seemingly  been  in  my  throat. 


264         THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

"  Yes.  And  I  wish  to  express  my  regrets  at  be 
ing  obliged  to  speak  to  him  as  I  did.  He  will 
doubtless  explain.  It  was  too  late.  I  am  going 
to  Maiden,  if  not  interrupted,  and  hope  to  be  back 
next  month,  when  I  will  see  you  again.  However, 
Captain,  perhaps  we  may  become  acquainted  on 
this  trip." 

"  Not  if  I  can  help  it,"  was  my  mental  re 
joinder;  but  aloud  I  said  something  conventional, 
and  leaving  him  rather  abruptly,  drew  Winterburn 
aside. 

"  Captain  Winterburn,"  I  said,  "  you  will  please 
see  to  it  that  yon  legal  lighthouse  is  not  in  our 
boat.  You  and  I  are  likely  to  discuss  matters 
which  we  would  not  care  to  have  any  civilian  hear." 

"  I  agree  with  you,"  was  his  ready  response. 
"  I  have  little  use  for  those  gentry;  they  are  for 
ever  making  trouble,  and  live  on  the  trouble  they 
make.  Shall  we  start?  " 

"  At  once,"  I  returned. 

Summoning  his  sergeant,  Winterburn  ordered 
him  to  get  the  men  embarked  in  the  string  of  boats 
I  soon  knew  was  trailing  alongside  the  wharf. 
I  stepped  away,  not  wishing  to  be  talked  to  by 
Evers,  and  watched  the  black  forms  of  the  men  as 
they  tumbled  into  the  six  whaleboats.  There  were 
some  thirty  soldiers  and  one  officer,  a  lieutenant, 
besides  Winterburn,  and  it  was  with  decided  relief 
that  I  saw  Judge  Evers  ordered  into  the  third 
boat.  But  I  really  cared  little  for  him  or  for  the 


A  GREEN  HAND  265 

number  of  the  British;  though  the  latter  occupied 
my  eyes  my  ears  were  trained  upon  the  land  end  of 
the  long  pier.  From  there  would  come  the  first 
alarm. 

I  thought  the  men  would  never  finish  embark 
ing,  but  at  length  they  did,  the  first  boats  waiting 
for  the  last  and  looking  like  great  black  spiders  as 
they  lay  on  the  star-gemmed  bay.  My  nerves  had 
again  grown  tense,  and  that  I  had  escaped  with  but 
scant  leeway  was  apparent  but  a  few  minutes  later. 
I  had  taken  my  seat  in  the  last  boat,  and  it  was  al 
ready  some  rods  from  the  wharf  when  I  heard 
the  ruffle  of  hoofs  on  the  street  as  a  horse  came 
along  at  a  tearing  pace.  Instinctively  I  knew, 
though  I  could  never  prove  my  knowledge,  that  the 
rider  bore  an  order  to  arrest  me.  I  held  my 
breath  as  I  listened. 

The  horse  I  had  heard  suddenly  stopped,  its 
rider  evidently  halted  by  the  sentries  at  the  pier 
head,  and  perhaps  the  delay  saved  me;  for  when 
I  heard  the  clatter  of  hoofs  on  the  loose  boards  of 
the  wharf  that  structure  was  already  buried  in 
gloom. 

At  that  moment  there  came  floating  from  some 
steeple  the  sound  of  a  clock  striking  one ;  the  horse 
stopped  on  the  end  of  the  pier,  but  whoever  its 
rider  might  have  been  he  did  not  hail,  not  seeing 
us,  and  in  a  moment  more  I  heard  the  horse  go 
back  at  a  great  pace.  Captain  Winterburn,  at  my 
side,  appeared  to  notice  nothing,  only  continuing 


266         THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

his  patter  over  the  ill  luck  that  took  him  from 
Boston.  I  returned  short  answers  and  urged  the 
necessity  of  speed,  then  told  him  my  instructions 
and  that  I  should  leave  him  soon  after  landing. 
The  young  fellow  showed  additional  respect  for 
me  when  he  learned  my  errand  to  the  American 
camp,  and  wondered  how  I  dared  attempt  it  in  the 
uniform  of  an  officer.  I  sidled  past  his  pertinent 
question  by  telling  him  I  had  a  disguise  awaiting 
me  on  the  mainland,  then  gave  him  to  understand 
I  did  not  care  to  be  questioned  on  matters  con 
nected  with  a  secret  errand. 

And  so,  miffed  as  a  youngster  is  apt  to  be,  he 
left  me  alone. 

By  the  route  I  led  this  flotilla  I  knew  we  would 
run  into  the  patrol-boats;  and  we  did;  but  our  pas 
sage  was  hardly  delayed,  Winterburn  showing  his 
credentials  and  I  forever  urging  haste.  Finally 
we  were  beyond  the  last  of  the  big  frigates. 

It  was  a  quiet  night,  and  the  swells  of  the  harbor 
were  sluggish,  so  that  our  progress  was  not  ham 
pered.  There  was  no  moon,  but  the  stars  were 
fine  and  the  air  delightful  after  the  heat  of  the 
day. 

In  the  boats  was  complete  silence,  save  for  the 
chugging  of  the  oars  and  the  swirl  of  water  as  its 
surface  was  torn  by  twenty-four  broad  blades. 
When  I  looked  back  to  my  situation  at  the  time 
the  day  before  I  felt  as  if  years  had  intervened. 

Now,  while  Noddles  Island  is  hardly  a  mile 


A  GREEN  HAND  267 

from  Boston,  Danforth's  mill  was  over  three  good 
miles  away,  by  water,  being  on  the  eastern  ex 
tremity. 

However,  it  was  not  to  Danforth's  I  was  going, 
and  so,  not  to  give  the  young  fellow  an  inkling  of 
where  he  was  or  the  course  I  was  taking,  I  led  the 
little  fleet  as  far  south  as  I  dared,  so  that  when 
I  turned  inward  Hog  Island  would  be  the  first 
land  seen. 

As  for  the  mill  —  there  would  be  small  diffi 
culty  in  carrying  out  the  deception,  for  there  were 
two  that  I  knew  of  on  Hog  Island;  and  if  I  had 
not  known  it  I  would  have  gathered  the  fact  from 
Brussel's  letter  to  his  uncle,  in  which  he  spoke  of 
having  quarters  in  a  mill. 

We  had  been  going  for  something  like  an  hour, 
and  I  had  changed  the  course  to  northward  with 
Hog  Island  straight  ahead,  Noddles  bearing 
northwest,  the  rock  called  Bird  Island  behind  us. 

I  was  getting  close  to  my  quarry,  and  was  about 
to  speak  to  the  officer  at  my  side  when  he  said: 
'  What  land  is  that  yonder  looming  over  the 
bow?" 

'Tis  Noddles  Island,  our  destination,"  I  an 
swered,  lying  glibly  enough.  "  You  will  be 
obliged  to  beach  your  boats;  but  as  there  is  little 
surf  it  will  not  be  a  difficult  landing." 

"  And  then  I  take  charge  of  affairs?  "  said  Win- 
terburn.  "  On  my  honor,"  he  continued,  "  I  have 
no  business  to  be  sent  on  this  mission!  It  is 


268          THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

meant  as  a  punishment  to  me  for  being  in  difficulty 
with  a  superior  —  a  difficulty  not  recognized  by 
the  military  code.  My  being  here  is  from  spite  — 
from  spite,  sir.  Do  you  understand?" 

"  I  follow  you,"  I  said. 

"  And  I  am  as  green  as  grass,"  he  went  on 
openly,  "  and  so  I  am  going  to  ask  you  to  help  me 
out,  if  you  have  the  time.  I  hardly  know  what  to 
do !  Will  you  go  to  the  mill  with  me?  " 

"  And  take  your  orders  ?     No,  sir,"  I  replied. 

"  By  no  means  —  by  no  means !  "  he  hastened  to 
say.  "  Keep  the  command.  To  be  frank,  I  have 
never  seen  service,  and  have  no  doubt  I  was  sent 
to  be  made  a  fool  of  by  —  no  matter  who.  Lord, 
Captain!  I  have  been  in  America  for  only  five 
days,  having  arrived  on  the  last  ship."  His  voice 
was  so  lowered  that  the  men  straining  at  the  near 
est  oar  could  not  have  heard  his  impassioned 
words. 

I  saw  his  trouble.  He  was  a  young  fellow,  a 
raw  hand  with  a  fire-new  commission,  and  just  off  a 
transport,  who  had  never  heard  a  shot  other  than 
from  a  fowling-piece  or  saluting  cannon.  In  some 
way  he  had  offended  a  high  and  mighty  official, 
who  could  not  or  dared  not  bring  him  to  trial,  but 
who  had  influence  and  could  command  an  unrecog 
nized  punishment.  I  pitied  the  stripling,  and  it 
came  to  me  that  by  staying  by  him  I  might  be  of 
service  to  the  miller.  Who  he  was  I  could  only 
guess,  but  it  would  not  be  Danforth. 


A  GREEN  HAND  269 

Now,  I  knew  Danforth  to  be  a  Whig  dyed  in  the 
wool,  and  as  politics  ran  pretty  evenly  through  the 
trades,  I  judged  that  the  unknown  miller  who  was 
about  to  be  robbed  was  also  a  Whig,  and  it  was 
my  duty  to  make  matters  as  easy  for  him  as  pos 
sible.  This  I  might  do  by  acceding  to  Winter- 
burn's  request  and  retaining  command  of  the  force, 
and  therefore  I  told  the  officer  I  would  help  him, 
telling  him  that  I  had  also  suffered  from  jealousy 
and  injustice. 

And  so,  as  we  rowed  along,  I  gave  him  an  out 
line  of  my  plan. 

"  It  would  be  wise  to  be  silent,"  I  said,  "  for 
it  is  possible  that  the  rebels  have  out  a  party  on  the 
same  errand  as  our  own.  Therefore,  I  suggest 
that  you  and  I  go  to  the  miller's  house  alone  in 
stead  of  at  once  attacking  the  mill  itself,  first  post 
ing  the  men.  If  Danforth  is  loyal  to  his  majesty 
we  will  have  no  trouble;  if  not  —  however,  that 
will  wait  until  we  reach  it." 

"  I  hardly  see  the  point  you  are  making," 
said  Winterburn,  "  but  doubtless  you  are 
right." 

Now,  I  saw  the  point  clearly  enough,  for  it 
would  set  me  free  to  look  for  Brussel  without  in 
terference,  as  on  arriving  at  the  miller's  house, 
I  would  discover  that  I  had  made  a  mistake,  hav 
ing  landed  on  Hog  Island  instead  of  Noddles,  the 
two  being  separated  by  a  narrow  channel  which 
might  be  forded  at  low  tide.  Then  I  would  apolo- 


270         THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

gize  and  explain,  sending  the  young  fellow  and  his 
force  on  their  proper  way. 

But  some  plans  go  wrong  in  spite  of  care  and 
foresight. 


CHAPTER  XXIV 

THE   MILL 

HOG  ISLAND  is  made  up  of  two  hills,  with 
a  margin  of  swamp  and  a  short  stretch  of 
beach.     The  larger  hill  is  in  the  center  of 
the  island,  the  smaller  on  the  southeast  extremity 
of  it,  or  on  the  point  we  were  approaching. 

On  the  summit  of  the  smaller  of  these  hills  is, 
or  was,  a  windmill,  and  this  was  to  stand  for  Dan- 
forth's  until  I  could  conveniently  discover  my  mis 
take.  Against  the  starlit  sky  I  could  see  it  as  we 
landed,  lifting  its  bony  arms  of  wind-sails  against 
the  velvety  blue. 

'  There's  your  quarry,"  I  said  to  Winterburn, 
pointing  to  the  bulk  of  shape  and  shadow  made  by 
the  mill,  and  glad  enough  that  I  had  gauged  its  lo 
cality  correctly. 

"  And  what  is  a  light  doing  in  it  at  this  hour?  " 
he  asked,  craning  his  neck  to  get  a  better  view. 

"  I  cannot  guess,"  I  said,  myself  surprised  as 
I  caught  a  gleam  from  a  window.  "  It  may  be 
that  the  miller  has  wind  of  this  affair  and  is  remov 
ing  his  stock  —  between  us  and  the  rebels  he  is 
bound  to  lose  it.  If  that  rabble  doesn't  raid  the 
island  ere  long  it  will  be  strange !  " 

271 


272          THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

I  said  this  in  all  sincerity,  not  knowing  that 
Noddles  Island  had  already  been  twice  raided  by 
both  parties,  and  that  a  skirmish  had  resulted  in 
the  defeat  of  the  Americans. 

We  were  now  ready  for  action,  but  the  light  in 
the  mill  decided  me  to  alter  my  plans;  instead  of 
marching  on  the  miller's  house  I  determined  to 
go  directly  to  the  mill  and  get  at  what  was  there 
going  forward.  The  men  being  assembled  on  the 
sand,  instructions  were  given  to  the  lieutenant,  a 
mere  boy,  to  form  them  round  the  mill,  permitting 
no  one  to  leave  or  enter  it.  Winterburn  and  I 
went  up  the  hill  in  the  wake  of  the  silent 
force. 

Though  the  light  showed  that  some  one  was 
awake  in  the  somber  building,  I  heard  nothing  of 
movement  either  within  or  without,  and  thought 
it  strange.  The  yeomanry  of  the  colonies  was  not 
given  to  keeping  late  hours ;  and  yet  here,  after  two 
in  the  morning,  was  some  one  with  a  stationary 
light,  which,  in  a  place  like  that,  was  a  mystery  of 
itself.  I  did  not  think  it  likely  that  the  miller's 
apprentice  would  be  burning  tallow  where  it  could 
be  seen  from  his  master's  house;  for  a  house  there 
was;  as  we  raised  the  hill  I  saw  it  snugged  among 
a  bunch  of  trees  some  three  hundred  paces  from 
the  mill  itself. 

We  halted  a  moment  and  inspected  the  gaunt 
structure  of  the  windmill;  something  —  Heaven 
knows  what  —  making  me  take  in  its  outward 


THE  MILL  273 

details  as  far  as  the  gloom  would  permit.  But 
there  was  little  to  see  beside  the  giant  wings  which 
almost  swept  the  ground,  and  the  great  balancing 
beam  on  the  opposite  side  with  a  cart-wheel  at  its 
end  to  make  the  shifting  into  the  wind  an  easy  job. 
The  lower,  or  immovable,  part  of  the  mill  was  like 
others  of  that  time.  The  door  was  approached 
by  a  long  flight  of  wooden  steps,  and  there  was  a 
small,  meal-covered  window  on  one  side  of  it;  but 
one  would  have  had  to  be  an  acrobat  to  get  a  view 
through  it  from  outside. 

Over  the  front  door  was  a  wide  opening  on  the 
level  of  the  second  floor,  a  grain  lift,  with  its  beam 
and  hook  for  a  tackle  and  fall.  The  whole  thing 
looked  ghostly  and  forbidding  in  the  darkness;  the 
weather  had  beaten  its  shingle-covered  sides  until 
they  were  of  a  silvery  gray,  and  the  building  must 
have  been  very  old,  for  here  and  there  a  section  of 
its  covering  had  fallen  away,  leaving  a  dark  patch. 

I  touched  Winterburn  on  the  arm  and  we  went 
on  to  the  front  door.  There  had  been  no  noise, 
and  no  alarm  had  been  given,  for  the  light  still 
shone  steadily  from  the  little  window.  The  si 
lence  of  the  place  was  like  a  weight. 

I  do  not  believe  that  Winterburn  was  fearing 
anything  at  that  time;  it  might  have  been,  how 
ever,  that  he  felt  disaster  in  the  air  and  hung  away 
from  it,  or  that  something  of  a  subconscious  na 
ture  warned  him  against  entering  the  building. 
At  all  events,  instead  of  moving  at  my  side,  he 


274         THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

fell  a  pace  or  so  behind  me,  drawing  his  sword  as 
he  walked. 

I  wondered  if  he  were  suspicious  of  me,  and 
stood  ready  to  cut  me  down.  However,  I  did  not 
alter  my  pace,  but  went  up  the  long  steps  cau 
tiously,  making  no  sound,  as  if  I  were  bent  on  a  <• 
crime;  and  I  know,  too,  that  it  came  sharply  to 
me  that  I  was  totally  unarmed,  the  few  inches  of 
blade  attached  to  the  hilt  being  useless  for  either 
offense  or  defense. 

As  I  neared  the  door  I  discovered  it  to  be 
slightly  ajar.  Turning  to  Winterburn  I  drew  his 
attention  to  it;  he  nodded,  and  then  I  saw  that 
his  face  looked  like  chalk  in  the  starlight.  But 
I  gave  his  appearance  no  further  thought  as  I 
pushed  open  the  door;  nor  was  I  greatly  surprised 
to  see  a  man  in  his  shirt-sleeves  and  hatless  seated 
at  a  table  on  which  burned  a  candle. 

He  was  facing  the  door,  his  head  bent  low 
over  the  table,  and  he  was  writing  rapidly,  being 
so  interested  in  his  work  that  he  had  not  heard 
our  entry.  Thrown  across  the  table  was  a  dusty 
miller's  coat,  and  close  by  it  was  a  long  pistol,  a 
detail  not  strange  at  that  time. 

The  feeble  light  of  the  single  candle  did  not 
bring  out  many  features  of  the  place  —  which 
took  up  the  whole  of  the  lower  floor  of  the  mill 
—  but  I  caught  a  glimpse  of  the  stairway  of  rough 
steps  leading  to  the  floor  above,  and  the  trap-door, 
now  open  and  leaning  against  the  wall. 


THE  MILL  275 

The  heavy  beams  overhead  were  festooned 
with  meal-covered  cobwebs;  there  were  a  few,  per 
haps  a  dozen,  full  grain-sacks  piled  against  the 
wall,  and  there  was  the  common  accumulation  of 
the  accessories  of  such  a  place;  but  my  quick  eye 
noticed  that  the  floor  had  been  clean  swept  and 
there  was  a  semblance  of  order  not  usual  in  a  grist 
mill.  I  had  but  just  finished  taking  in  the  situa 
tion,  and  was  about  to  speak,  when  Winterburn 
gave  a  short  cough,  the  sound  of  which  caused  the 
man  at  the  table  to  lift  his  head  with  a  nervous 
start. 

And  then  I  started  myself. 

For  there,  again  at  close  range,  sat  Larry  Brus- 
sel. 

At  sight  of  us  he  sprang  to  his  feet,  but  the 
light  of  the  candle  being  in  his  eyes  he  did  not 
know  me,  though  I  knew  him  well  enough  for  all 
that  he  wore  the  dress  of  a  miller. 

For  an  instant  we  three  stood  there,  I  stunned 
by  my  discovery,  and  Brussel  too  surprised  to 
gather  the  import  of  the  appearance  of  two  Brit 
ish  officers.  In  that  brief  time  I  noticed  his  left 
arm  lay  in  a  sling. 

But  we  did  not  long  remain  in  a  state  of  in 
action,  and  it  was  I  who  gave  the  man  before  me 
an  inkling  of  the  situation.  For  I  spoke,  though 
to  this  day  I  have  no  idea  what  I  said.  I  only 
know  that  I  took  a  step  forward  while  speaking, 
Winterburn  being  behind  me. 


276          THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

The  sound  of  my  voice,  and  my  approach,  un 
sealed  the  mystery  to  Brussel  —  or  unsealed  it 
enough  for  him  to  know  that  he  was  facing  an 
enemy  —  for  with  an  oath  he  fell  back  from  the 
table,  then,  recovering  himself,  he  leaped  to  it, 
seized  the  pistol,  and,  without  a  word  of  warn 
ing,  leveled  it  at  me,  and  fired. 

It  was  well  for  me  that  the  light  was  in  his 
eyes,  the  man  surprised,  and  the  apartment  a 
large  one.  As  Brussel  shot  he  was  at  least  twenty 
feet  from  me,  with  the  table  between  us,  and  the 
conditions  made  his  aim  faulty. 

As  it  was,  the  heavy  bullet  passed  between  my 
body  and  my  right  arm,  tearing  the  sleeve  of  the 
coat  I  wore,  and  struck  Winterburn,  where  I 
never  knew.  I  only  know  the  stunning  explosion 
was  followed  by  a  groan,  as  the  young  man  fell 
to  the  floor,  his  dropped  sword  clattering  over  the 
bare  boards. 

And  then  I  awoke  to  the  fact  that  the  condi 
tions  had,  for  me,  suddenly  whirled  to  a  reverse, 
and,  unless  I  acted  quickly  and  accurately,  I  was 
lost.  The  pistol-shot  would  assuredly  bring  in 
the  lieutenant;  explanations  would  be  in  order, 
my  way  of  escape  blocked,  and  I  ruined.  This 
must  be  prevented. 

Brussel  stood  as  if  transfixed,  his  body  veiled  in 
the  haze  of  smoke  from  his  firearm.  He  did  not 
see  the  result  of  his  shot,  nor  is  it  likely  he  marked 


THE  MILL  277 

me  as  I  sprang  to  the  door,  closed  it  with  a  bang, 
and  dropped  the  bar  into  its  place. 

For  the  moment  I  was  safe  from  interference 
from  without,  and  if  it  were  decreed  that  I  were 
to  meet  my  end  here,  that  end  would  not  be  before 
I  had  settled  with  the  man  standing  by  the  table. 
At  that  supreme  moment  I  felt  I  was  living  but 
from  second  to  second,  and  not  to  lose  him,  I 
turned  my  attention  to  my  ancient  enemy. 

I  never  saw  a  face  look  blacker  than  his  as  he 
saw  me  wheel  from  the  door  and  strip  off  my  coat. 
As  I  have  said,  I  had  no  weapon,  but  my  passion 
was  such  that  I  thought  of  none;  I  wished  only 
to  get  my  bare  hands  on  the  man;  I  had  little  doubt 
of  the  result. 

"What  are  you  doing  here?"  asked  Brussel, 
finding  his  voice,  but  not  moving. 

"  You  hardly  need  three  guesses  at  it,"  I  an 
swered,  throwing  the  sling  from  my  neck  and  roll 
ing  up  my  shirt-sleeves;  then  I  stripped  off  the 
useless  sword  I  wore  and  sent  it  clattering  into  a 
corner. 

"How  did  you  know  I  was  here?"  he  de 
manded. 

"  I  did  not  know,"  I  returned.  "  The  Lord 
guided  me  here.  But  I  do  know  the  depths  that 
you  and  Dench  have  gone,  and  I  am  selected  as  an 
instrument  to  punish  you,  you  dog;  your  uncle  is 
already  punished.  Where  is  Louise  Selden?  " 


278          THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

"  Damn  you!  "  he  retorted.  "  Do  you  think 
I  am  a  child  to  be  played  with?  Mark  me  well; 
I  have  disposed  of  one  of  you  and  will  soon  settle 
with  the  other !  " 

"  You  have  shot  an  officer  of  his  majesty's," 
I  said,  advancing  toward  the  table.  "  As  for  me 

—  get  this  before  I  punish  you.     I  escaped.     I 
killed  your  henchman,  the  sergeant,  though  with 
out  meaning  to,  hanged  your  familiar,  the  hound, 
returned  to  your  uncle's,  made  him  a  prisoner  in 
his  own  strong  room,  and  by  a  bold  stroke  suc 
ceeded  in  making  Gage  think  I  was  you. 

"  Listen,  you  villain !  Gage  ordered  me  to 
guide  a  force  to  Noddles  Island.  I  knew  you 
to  be  on  Hog  Island,  your  letter  to  Dench  telling 
me  that  much.  I  knew  you  kidnaped  Louise 
because  you  feared  her  tongue  —  as  well  you 
might  —  and  you  failed  to  take  me  into  your 
reckoning.  It  were  an  easy  thing  to  gull  the  boy 
you  shot.  I  brought  him  here  that  I  might  get 
you;  he  thinks  he  is  on  Noddles  Island.  Do  you 
follow  me,  you  villain?" 

"  Do  I  follow  you !  Ay,  I  do !  "  shouted 
Brussel,  backing  away  from  me.  "  Dost  think 

—  nay,  then,  it  is  you  who  have  reckoned  badly! 
By  the  hot  foot  of  Lucifer,  I  am  glad  you  are 
come  !     I  will  settle  with  you  at  once  —  you  rebel 

—  you  spy  —  you  — " 

"  So  much  the  better!  "  I  shouted  back,  and  at 
that  moment  the  lieutenant,  evidently  puzzled  by 


THE  MILL  279 

the  shot  and  the  closing  of  the  door,  came  up  the 
steps  and  called  his  superior,  trying  to  open  the 
door  in  the  meanwhile. 

"  Do  you  hear  that?  "  said  I,  pointing  at  the 
barred  entrance.  "  Outside  are  the  king's  troops 
—  and  that  should  explain  my  hurry!  May 
Heaven  forgive  me,  but  I  am  going  to  kill  thee 
now." 

By  then  I  had  worked  myself  into  a  mad  pas 
sion;  I  was  far  from  being  myself,  and,  as  I  fin 
ished  speaking,  I  crouched  and  again  moved 
toward  my  man.  The  wounded  officer  groaned 
and  tried  to  rise,  but  fell  back  helpless.  I  had  no 
ill  feeling  for  him,  but  I  could  give  him  no  at 
tention. 

At  the  door  there  were  now  shouts  and  violent 
knocking,  but  I  had  no  fear  of  immediate  inter 
ruption,  the  windows  front  and  rear  being  high 
from  the  ground  and  scarce  large  enough  to  ad 
mit  an  adult.  But  if  I  thought  Brussel  would  re 
main  where  he  was  and  submit  to  being  choked  to 
death,  I  was  far  out  in  my  reckoning.  As  he  saw 
me  advancing  on  him,  he  stood  but  an  instant,  then 
he  turned  and  sprang  toward  the  wall. 

I  at  first  thought  he  was  making  for  the  stairs 
leading  to  the  floor  above,  which  could  he  have 
attained,  he  might  have  been  safe,  as  he  had  only 
to  drop  the  trap.  But  I  had  looked  to  that  and 
would  have  had  him  by  the  heels  ere  he  was  half 
way  up. 


280         THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

However,  his  move  was  entirely  different  and 
took  me  by  surprise,  for,  instead  of  running  up 
the  stairs,  he  dodged  behind  them  and  at  once 
reappeared  with  a  drawn  sword  which  he  had 
evidently  placed  in  the  closetlike  nook.  Swing 
ing  the  blade  over  his  head,  he  laughed  in  my  face 
and,  raising  his  voice,  shouted: 

"For  the  king — for  the  king!  Break  down 
the  door!  Break  down  the  door!"  With  that 
he  jumped  toward  me. 

Here  was  another  reverse.  With  the  dis 
charge  of  his  pistol  I  thought  the  man  unarmed, 
but  now  saw  that  he  had  the  whip-hand  on  me. 
I  could  not  dodge  beneath  his  guard  as  I  had  done 
at  the  White  Horse,  and  the  odds  being  against 
me,  I  started  to  get  the  heavy  table  between  us. 

But  at  my  first  step  I  trod  on  the  sword  of  the 
fallen  officer,  and  anything  in  the  way  of  a  weapon 
being  a  godsend  I  stooped  and  picked  it  up,  recov 
ering  myself  just  in  time  to  meet  Brussel's  fero 
cious  assault.  His  first  wild  thrust  I  managed  to 
parry,  but  I  knew  I  was  no  match  for  him  in  the 
art  of  fencing,  for  though  his  skill  was  not  great, 
mine  was  less,  and  I  was  sure  that,  barring  acci 
dent,  his  steel  would  find  my  vitals  within  a  few 
minutes,  if  not  seconds. 

Now  the  clashing  of  metal  was  mingled  with 
the  shouts  of  the  soldiers  banging  on  the  door, 
and  it  was  when  the  din  was  at  its  height  that 
clear  above  it  all  I  heard  the  cry  of  a  woman.  It 


THE  MILL  281 

seemed  to  come  from  the  upper  part  of  the  mill, 
though  muffled  as  if  issuing  from  a  closet,  and  a 
moment  later,  as  plainly  as  I  ever  heard  anything 
in  my  life,  I  heard  Louise's  voice  calling  my  name. 

The  sound  stirred  me  like  martial  music,  though 
instead  of  giving  me  confidence  it  only  made  the 
situation  appear  more  hopeless.  There  looked 
to  be  a  double  triumph  in  store  for  Brussel,  for 
beset  within  by  a  man  who  was  my  superior  in 
swordsmanship,  and  without  by  a  howling  mob 
of  redcoats,  what  could  I  expect?  and  what  the  girl 
look  for? 

But  for  the  moment  I  only  considered  myself, 
and  to  save  me  from  being  impaled  on  the  sword 
of  the  officer  whose  white  teeth  now  showed  in 
an  evil  smile,  I  was  giving  ground  before  him, 
parrying  his  attacks  with  my  best  efforts. 

It  was  not  until  I  had  been  backed  against  the 
table  that  my  wits  worked  to  a  purpose.  With 
an  open  curse  at  him,  I  jumped  round  the  end  of 
the  board,  hoping  to  put  the  massive  thing  be 
tween  us;  but  Brussel  seemed  to  anticipate  my 
move,  for  he  sprang  to  one  side,  thus  cutting  me 
off. 

It  was  then  that  I  changed  the  complexion  of 
matters,  for  in  the  second  it  took  him  to  shift  his 
ground,  I  reached  for  the  candle  with  my  left 
hand,  grasped  the  heavy  copper  stick,  and  hurled 
it  at  his  head.  Had  it  hit  him,  the  affair  would 
have  been  at  once  settled;  but  it  missed  him,  fly- 


282         THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

ing  past  and  striking  the  wall  of  the  mill  behind 
him. 

At  once  the  interior  of  the  place  was  in  total 
darkness,  and  I,  taking  advantage  of  the  sudden 
and  bewildering  gloom,  sprang  toward  the  stair 
way,  found  it,  and  ran  up  to  the  floor  above. 

At  the  top  the  darkness  was  as  profound  as  on 
the  floor  below;  but  I  found  the  door  of  the  trap 
and,  without  attempting  to  conceal  my  line  of 
flight,  I  dropped  the  heavy  cover  over  the  hole, 
the  bang  of  the  oak  planks  sounding  like  a  cannon- 
shot  as  they  fell  into  place. 

Then  I  threw  my  weight  on  it,  blowing  like  a 
spent  runner. 

What  had  I  gained?  It  looked  to  be  but  a  few 
moments'  respite  and  rest,  for  as  plainly  as  if  I 
were  in  the  room  below,  I  heard  Brussel  run  to 
the  door  and  throw  off  the  bar;  the  next  moment 
the  soldiers  poured  in  and  the  place  was  filled  with 
a  babel  of  shouting. 

But  presently  it  became  more  quiet,  and  I  could 
hear  Brussel's  raised  voice;  I  also  heard  the  strik 
ing  of  flint  and  steel,  as  an  attempt  was  made  to 
rekindle  the  candle;  and,  at  length,  this  was  suc 
cessful,  for  I  saw  the  light  shining  between  the 
cracks  of  the  thick  flooring. 

There  was  no  immediate  attack  made  on  the 
trap  on  which  I  was  sitting,  and  that  for  the  prob 
able  reason  that  there  was  difficulty  on  Brussel's 
part  in  getting  the  young  lieutenant  to  understand 


and  believe  the  true  state  of  affairs.  That  there 
could  ha  two  Captain  Brussels  was  rather  more 
than  the  young  fellow's  brain  could  comprehend. 
One  was  undoubtedly  a  fraud  —  but  which?  I 
should  have  thought  my  flight  and  Brussel's  act 
of  opening  the  door  might  have  settled  the  ques 
tion. 

I  had  not  heard  the  girl's  voice  since  I  reached 
the  upper  floor,  and  now,  with  regained  breath,  I 
was  about  to  call  to  her  when  I  heard  the  tramp 
of  a  footstep  on  the  stairs,  and  immediately  after 
there  came  a  knock  on  the  trap. 

"  What  is  it?  "  said  I,  without  an  attempt  to 
conceal  my  position. 

"  I  am  Lieutenant  Bostwick,  sir,  and  ask  you 
to  submit  to  arrest  until  this  matter  can  be  cleared. 
This  is  by  order  of  Captain  Winterburn,  who  is 
badly  wounded.  We  have  the  man  who  shot 
him." 

"  Do  what  you  will  with  him,"  I  returned,  for 
I  knew  not  what  else  to  say. 

"  And  you  will  not  surrender?  " 

"  Never.  Take  your  man  to  Gage  and  tell  him 
he  has  a  poltroon  for  an  officer." 

"  Waste  no  words  with  him,  Lieutenant,"  I 
heard  Brussel  say.  "  Force  the  trap  and  shoot 
him  on  sight.  Ten  pounds  to  the  man  who  gets 
him  dead  or  alive." 

I  have  small  doubt  that  he  did  not  wish  me 
taken  alive.  It  would  have  meant  a  trial,  which, 


284         THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

though  it  ended  my  life,  would  spell  ruin  for  him. 
The  inexperienced  lieutenant  paid  no  attention  to 
his  words,  and  on  my  again  defying  him  proceeded 
to  lose  his  own  temper. 

"All  right,  you  cursed  bullheaded  zany!  "  he 
finally  shouted.  "  I  have  you  boxed.  The  place 
is  surrounded,  and  unless  you  surrender  at  once 
I  will  smoke  you  out.  I  now  believe  you  to  be 
a  spy." 

"Smoke  and  be  cursed!"  I  retorted.  "But 
please  do  not  forget  that  there  is  a  lady  imprisoned 
somewhere  up  here.  I  heard  her  call." 

"  Find  her  and  send  her  down,"  was  the  short 
answer  to  this. 

"  I  will,  if  you  will  grant  a  truce,"  I  shouted. 

"  He  lies,"  cried  Brussel.  "  There  is  no 
woman  there." 

But  the  words  did  not  convince  the  lieutenant. 
I  heard  him  command  Brussel  to  be  silent,  then 
he  again  spoke  to  me. 

"  Will  you  admit  you  are  Allan  Darcy  of  the 
rebel  army?  " 

"  I  am  Allan  Darcy  of  no  army,"  I  replied. 
"  I  came  here  to  punish  the  villain  you  have  cap 
tured,  and  if  you  will  send  him  up  here  alone  — " 

"  Enough  of  that,"  interrupted  the  officer. 
"  I  am  not  fighting  women.  I  will  give  you  five 
minutes  in  which  to  find  her;  after  I  will  show  you 
no  mercy." 

With  that  he  went  down  the  stairs. 


THE  MILL  285; 

I  had  sufficient  faith  in  him  to  leave  the  trap, 
arid  promptly  fell  over  something  on  the  floor. 
It  proved  to  be  a  bit  of  scantling,  and  I  pushed  it 
toward  the  trap  with  the  idea  of  using  it  to  fasten 
the  door  against  assault.  But  I  did  not  advance 
in  finding  the  girl. 

Again  and  again  I  called  her  name,  but  received 
no  answer,  and  at  last  concluded  that  I  had  either 
been  deceived  in  thinking  I  had  heard  her  or  else 
she  had  fainted  and  was  lying  in  her  prison  un 
conscious. 

The  surrounding  darkness  hampered  my  search 
more  than  anything  else.  Three  feet  from  the 
open  grain-hoist  the  dense  gloom  was  more  like  a 
thing  than  a  condition.  I  could  not  see  my  hand 
before  my  face.  I  went  feeling  along  the  walls, 
hoping  to  come  upon  a  door,  but  only  encountered 
bins,  barrels,  and  machinery. 

And  then  it  was  that  I  came  nigh  to  being  the 
victim  of  the  lieutenant's  treachery;  for  while  I 
was  feeling  my  way  around,  and  while  the  truce 
was  still  on,  not  having  been  terminated  by  either 
time  or  word,  I  saw  the  trap  lift,  the  light  from 
below  first  catching  my  attention;  the  next  mo 
ment  the  door  was  flung  back  and  a  soldier  jumped 
to  the  floor.  Behind  him  was  another  man  bear 
ing  a  candle ;  both  carried  muskets. 

There  was  but  one  thing  I  could  do.  I  still 
hung  to  the  sword  I  had  picked  up,  and  now  I 
leaped  forward  out  of  the  gloom,  before  the  sol- 


286         THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

dier  could  get  his  bearings,  and  passed  the  blade 
into  his  body. 

With  a  yell  he  fell  backward,  carrying  his  com 
rade  with  him  as  he  plunged  to  the  floor  below, 
while  I  slammed  down  the  cover  and  again  stood 
on  it. 


CHAPTER  XXV 

FIRE 

A  STATE  of  confusion  took  the  place  of 
the  silence  that  had  reigned  below,  and 
at  once  a  shot  was  fired  into  the  trap, 
but  its  heavy  planks  held  me  safe. 

My  heart  was  racing  at  my  narrow  escape,  but 
my  wits  were  still  alert,  and  minding  me  of  the 
scantling,  I  felt  for  it,  found  it,  and,  placing  one 
end  on  the  trap,  jammed  the  other  under  a  cross 
brace  in  the  wall;  then  I  felt  secure  from  another 
attack  by  way  of  the  stairs. 

At  that  time  I  was  filled  with  rage  rather  than 
fear,  for  I  could  only  remain  at  bay  and  wait  for 
the  enemy  to  make  a  move;  had  I  seen  a  chance 
to  escape,  I  would  have  attempted  it  however 
desperate  it  might  have  been  —  but  the  only 
means  of  egress  was  through  the  grain-lift  door 
which  was  thirty  feet  above  the  ground,  and,  more 
over,  the  mill  was  surrounded. 

I  went  to  the  opening  and  cautiously  looked 
forth ;  the  gloom  was  too  great  to  permit  the  mark 
ing  of  details,  but  I  caught  the  shadowy  figures  of 
a  number  of  men  close  by  the  mill.  In  a  moment 
they  bent  and  lifted  something,  and  then  I  saw 

287 


288          THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

they  were  carrying  away  either  the  officer  Brus- 
sel  had  shot  or  the  soldier  I  had  attacked  and 
probably  slain. 

But  no  further  assault  was  made  upon  my  posi 
tion  ;  doubtless  the  conditions  were  puzzling  to  the 
young  lieutenant,  who  had  his  hands  full.  I  after 
ward  learned  that  this  hopeful  young  idiot  was 
perplexed  as  to  what  his  duty  was,  inasmuch  as  he 
was  not  on  Noddles  Island,  to  which  the  expedi 
tion  had  been  ordered,  and  this  was  not  Dan- 
forth's  mill.  He  had  little  initiative,  and  his  want 
of  decision  was  really  the  cause  of  my  final  escape. 

I  felt  rather  than  knew  that  the  room  below  was 
occupied,  though  I  could  not  hear  a  sound  from  it. 
Was  it  possible  they  thought  to  lure  me  into  a  be 
lief  that  my  way  to  escape  lay  open?  No,  it  was 
not  that,  as  I  was  soon  made  aware. 

In  the  month  of  July  the  sun  rises  early,  and 
finally  pale  dawn  began  to  creep  over  the  scene, 
penetrating  the  old  mill  and  dissolving  the  black 
shadows  of  the  upper  room  to  which  I  was  con 
fined.  I  soon  began  to  make  out  the  form  of  ob 
jects  in  the  place;  gradually  there  loomed  up  the 
machinery  of  the  mill,  the  great  shaft  running  out 
to  the  wind-sails,  the  little  door  just  above  the 
giant  stick,  a  short  ladder  leading  to  it,  the  coarse, 
wooden  cog-wheels,  the  giant  hopper,  and  the  net 
work  of  cross-beams  holding  the  whole  together, 
while  over  all  was  the  silvery  dust  of  meal.  A 
row  of  bins  was  on  one  side  of  this  loft,  and  at 


FIRE  289 

its  end  I  soon  made  out  a  door  leading  to  what 
appeared  to  be  a  small  room.  Such  a  door  I  had 
looked  for  in  the  darkness,  and  now  I  hastened 
to  it. 

There  was  a  lock  to  it  —  a  padlock  —  but  the 
key  was  missing  and  the  door  was  fast;  but  though 
it  was  of  no  great  strength,  it  was  too  much  for 
me  to  force  without  aid.  I  looked  round  for 
something  to  use  as  a  ram,  and  I  caught  sight  of 
the  scantling  over  the  trap.  I  was  in  a  hurry  now. 

Removing  the  brace,  I  rolled  some  barrels  of 
grist  on  the  trap  to  take  its  place,  and  with  the 
stick  attacked  the  door.  I  had  no  doubt  that 
Louise  Selden  was  within  that  little  room. 

It  was  just  as  I  delivered  the  first  blow  with  the 
scantling  that  I  became  aware  of  the  nearness  to 
its  close  of  the  drama  in  which  I  had  been  a  too 
prominent  actor;  for  as  the  wood  sprung  and 
splintered  under  the  impact  of  the  ram,  I  smelled 
a  faint  odor  of  smoke,  and  a  moment  later  I  had 
guessed  the  truth. 

It  turned  me  cold.  The  lieutenant  had  executed 
his  threat;  the  mill  had  been  fired,  and  in  their 
eagerness  to  get  the  man  they  had  not  considered 
the  woman. 

Now,  I  have  no  wish  to  pose  as  a  hero  in  this 
bit  of  history,  but  as  Heaven  is  my  witness,  I 
thought  less  of  myself  at  that  moment  than  I  did 
of  the  lady  I  believed  to  be  behind  the  door  I  had 
attacked.  So  certain  was  I  that  personally  I  had 


290         THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

no  chance  to  escape  that  the  pungent  odor  of  burn 
ing  wood  threw  me  into  no  panic  of  terror. 

Truly,  I  dreaded  being  burned  —  but  I  would 
no  more  burn  than  I  would  hang.  I  would  only 
have  to  appear  in  order  to  invite  a  bullet  and  have 
my  career  cut  short;  as  for  death  —  I  had  looked 
upon  it  as  inevitable  from  the  moment  I  found 
the  tables  turned  on  me.  Therefore,  this  new 
danger  did  not  cause  me  to  forego  my  efforts  to 
save  the  girl  —  it  rather  increased  them;  for  I 
knew  the  old  structure  would  go  like  paper,  once 
it  was  well  afire,  though  it  must  be  some  minutes 
ere  the  heavy  timbers  would  hold  the  flames,  or  I 
be  in  danger  of  suffocation  from  the  rapidly  in 
creasing  smoke. 

So,  with  a  will  born  of  unselfishness  —  if  love 
is  ever  unselfish  —  I  rammed  that  door  until  the 
fairly  demolished  woodwork  gave  me  an  opening 
through  which  I  could  look.  And  on  thrusting 
my  head  into  the  ragged  hole,  I  was  astonished. 

The  room  was  empty,  as  I  could  see  at  a  glance. 
It  had  probably  been  built  for  a  mill  hand  or  ap 
prentice,  as  under  its  little  window  was  a  shelflike 
bunk  fastened  against  the  wall.  There  was  also 
a  small  table  with  an  inch  of  candle  in  a  tin  stick, 
and  a  bit  of  rag  carpet  lay  on  the  few  feet  of  floor; 
that  was  all  in  the  way  of  furniture. 

Under  the  table  lay  a  half-open  portmantle,  and 
thrown  upon  the  bunk  was  a  uniform  coat  of  scar 
let.  Here,  then,  were  the  quarters  of  Brussel 


FIRE  291 

—  quarters  at  which  he  had  complained  in  his  let 
ter  to  Dench;  but  there  was  no  sign  of  Louise 
Selden  ever  having  been  there. 

I  was  bewildered,  but  exceedingly  thankful  that 
the  girl  was  absent  —  but,  not  being  there,  whose 
voice  had  I  heard  calling  me?  and  from  where? 
It  was  a  mystery  I  could  never  more  than  partly 
explain,  and  just  then  did  not  try. 

For  my  situation  had  become  tragic  and  mat 
ters  for  me  were  fast  narrowing  to  a  climax.  The 
smoke  was  issuing  from  the  cracks  of  the  floor 
and  sailing  upward  in  increasing  volume  to  the 
mass  of  timbers  overhead;  but  as  yet  its  density 
was  not  stifling.  Cautiously  I  went  to  the  open 
door  of  the  grain-lift,  and  screening  my  body  from 
the  shot  I  was  not  yet  ready  for,  looked  out. 
Broad  day  was  over  land  and  sea,  though  the  sun 
was  not  yet  above  the  horizon,  and  everything  was 
clear  when  the  light  wind  wafted  away  the  smoke 
which  curled  from  the  door  below. 

Now  I  could  see  Brussel,  and  near  him  stood 
Judge  Evers.  Hotfoot  was  standing  under  a  tree 
over  near  the  miller's  house,  and  that  he  was  a 
prisoner  was  made  plain  by  the  two  armed  soldiers 
on  either  side  of  him.  Directly  in  front  of  the 
mill,  but  fifty  feet  away,  were  four  soldiers,  and  to 
the  right  I  could  see  two  more,  all  with  attention 
fixed  on  the  burning  mill. 

It  was  plain  that  the  building  was  surrounded 
and  any  escape  for  me  cut  off ;  it  looked  to  be  that 


292          THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

I  must  soon  show  myself  and  be  shot  or  throw  my 
self  to  the  ground  and  risk  being  maimed  instead 
of  killed. 

As  I  stood  there,  now  forced  to  cough  in  the  in 
creasing  muck,  my  eyes  smarting  from  the  acrid 
fumes,  I  rapidly  calculated  the  remaining  time  I 
could  survive  and  saw  that  it  had  become  a  mat 
ter  of  minutes.  And  it  was  when  I  had  about 
made  up  my  mind  to  bid  for  the  shot  that  would 
end  all,  when,  like  a  hand  from  Heaven,  there  came 
a  new  force  into  the  drama. 

For  the  tables,  then  full  against  me,  were  sud 
denly  turned  in  my  favor,  and  the  joy  of  living 
loomed  large  as  I  saw  that  I  might  be  saved. 

I  do  not  pretend  to  assert  that  my  salvation  was 
in  the  least  due  to  myself.  From  the  time  I  had 
first  entered  the  White  Horse  I  had  been  through 
a  series  of  adventures  out  of  which  I  had  pulled 
unscathed,  but  my  escapes  had  been  due  to  for 
tuitous  circumstances.  I  only  used  the  wit  Heaven 
gave  me  when  I  took  advantage  of  them. 

But  at  the  moment  of  which  I  was  speaking  I 
had  given  over  hoping,  and  my  heart  was  beat 
ing  thickly  enough. 

Heaven  knows  the  world  looked  sweet  as  it  lay 
before  me  that  July  morning,  and  I  groaned  when 
I  thought  that  to  those  who  loved  me  my  fate 
would  never  be  known.  I  had  become  desperate 
and  could  stand  the  smoke  but  a  few  moments 
longer,  and,  as  I  have  said,  I  was  about  to  present 


FIRE  293 

myself  openly  at  the  door,  when  I  heard  a  shot 
and  a  shout,  both  from  a  distance,  and  then  from 
behind  the  miller's  house  came  a  redcoat  running. 

The  shot  was  followed  by  two  others.  I  heard 
the  lieutenant  call  to  his  men,  and  in  a  moment 
they  came  running  from  all  directions,  forming  in 
line  near  where  Brussel  was  standing. 

Between  the  thickening  folds  of  smoke  I  saw 
the  villain,  deserted  by  his  guard,  run  into  the 
house,  closely  followed  by  Judge  Evers,  and  the 
two  had  barely  disappeared  when  from  behind  the 
home-lot  buildings  there  came  a  body  of  men  ad 
vancing  in  the  ragged  formation  of  a  skirmish  line. 
They  were  followed  by  a  larger  force,  all  armed 
but  ununiformed,  and  halting  just  long  enough 
to  deliver  a  volley  at  the  waiting  British,  they 
raised  a  wild  cry  and  charged  them. 

I  saw  all  this  and  quickly  guessed  at  the  state 
of  things.  The  newcomers  were  Americans,  and 
they  outnumbered  the  British  nigh  two  to  one. 

I  could  make  out  no  more  after  that,  for  a 
great  coil  of  smoke  blotted  the  view,  but  I  heard 
the  shots  the  redcoats  fired  in  return;  I  heard 
shouts,  curses,  the  rattle  of  metal  against  metal, 
and  the  scuffle  of  many  feet;  but  I  took  little  heed 
of  these  things.  The  British  were  fully  occupied, 
and  I  might  possibly  escape. 

Dropping  on  my  hands  and  knees  I  crawled  to 
the  trap,  threw  off  the  barrels  and  lifted  the  cover. 
A  blast  of  scorching  air  and  a  denser  roll  of  smoke 


294         THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

nearly  prostrated  me  and  showed  me  the  fire  had 
been  started  beneath  the  stairs,  which  were  now 
impassable. 

Dropping  the  hatch,  I  staggered  back  to  the 
open  door,  but  there  was  no  longer  an  outlook,  for 
the  smoke  rolled  thickly  as  the  fire  made  rapid 
headway,  its  fierce  crackling  almost  drowning  other 
sounds;  I  could  hear  an  occasional  shot,  but  that 
was  all. 

I  screamed  for  help,  but  my  scream  was  lost  in 
the  roar  of  the  flames,  and,  in  a  state  of  despera 
tion,  I  was  about  to  throw  myself  to  the  ground 
below  when  I  thought  of  the  little  door  leading  out 
over  the  shaft  of  the  wind-sails.  If  I  could  get  to 
and  through  it  I  might  crawl  along  the  shaft;  pos 
sibly  I  could  reach  the  ground  by  means  of  the  lad- 
derlike  wind-sail. 

It  was  by  instinct  and  the  sense  of  feeling  that 
I  came  upon  the  ladder  leading  to  the  tiny  upper 
door.  I  was  nearly  spent  when  I  reached  it,  for 
I  held  my  breath,  as  does  a  diver. 

I  know  not  how  I  got  up  that  ladder,  but  I  did 
realize  that  if  the  door  was  fastened  my  end  had 
come,  for  I  was  bursting  from  suppressed  breath 
ing. 

But,  thank  Heaven,  the  door  fell  open  at  my 
first  kick,  and  dropping  to  my  knees,  I  crawled  out 
on  the  shaft;  then,  from  sudden  weakness,  was 
obliged  to  throw  myself  along  its  length  and  clasp 


FIRE  295 

it  for  fear  of  falling  to  the  ground,  now  forty  feet 
below. 

But  here  the  air  was  pure,  the  wind  being  from 
that  side,  and  I  took  in  great  gulps  of  it,  gradually 
getting  back  my  half-lost  consciousness,  though 
still  well-nigh  helpless  from  sudden  weakness. 

But  I  was  soon  forced  into  action;  for  the  fire 
had  begun  to  eat  its  way  out  through  the  sides  of 
the  mill,  and  directly  beneath  me  I  saw  a  tongue 
of  flame  follow  a  spout  of  smoke  as  the  old 
shingles  crumpled  and  blazed  under  the  heat.  I 
could  not  remain  where  I  was,  and  with  a  reeling 
head  and  a  nauseated  stomach  I  worked  myself  out 
to  an  arm  of  the  wind-sail,  and  as  a  great  section 
of  the  shingle  sheathing  fell  with  a  crash  and  a 
mass  of  fire  shot  through  the  opening,  I  swung 
myself  to  the  wing  and  clambered  down  its  rung- 
like  bracing. 

I  had  almost  reached  the  bottom,  then  being 
scarce  ten  feet  from  the  sod,  when  the  earth  and 
sky  seemed  to  come  together;  I  lost  footing  and 
grip,  and  fell. 

I  must  have  been  nearly  unconscious  when  I 
struck  the  ground,  for  I  did  not  know  when  I 
reached  it,  though  a  moment  later  I  felt  myself 
being  roughly  dragged  by  the  collar,  and  then  I 
became  oblivious  of  everything. 


CHAPTER  XXVI 

CAPTAIN    HICKS 

I  WAS  brought  to  myself  by  a  rough  voice: 
"  Get  up  here,  ye  cursed  red-backed  sneak!  " 
it  said,  and  I  opened  my  eyes  to  find  I  was  ly 
ing  on  the  ground  at  some  distance  from  the  mill, 
which  was  now  a  mass  of  flames  from  top  to  bot 
tom,  and  I  was  surrounded  by  a  number  of  men, 
not  one  of  whom  was  in  uniform. 

And  then  matters  took  form  in  my  mind,  and  I 
knew  the  British  had  been  defeated.  My  stomach 
was  no  longer  sick,  and  though  weak,  my  head  was 
steady.  I  sat  up  and  looked  around. 

"Up  to  your  feet  and  march,"  said  one  who  ap 
peared  to  be  the  leader.  "  Did  ye  think  to  sneak 
away  an'  let  yer  fellows  do  the  fighting?  " 

"  I  am  no  British  soldier,"  I  said. 

"  So  I  might  guess  by  the  color  of  yer  cloth," 
was  the  reply,  followed  by  a  loud  guffaw  from  the 
listening  men;  then  I  saw  I  was  being  judged  by 
the  remnant  of  the  uniform  I  wore. 

"  Nay,  sir,"  said  I,  "  I  take  it  you  are  from  the 
American  camp.  And  so  am  I.  I  was  captured 
at  the  fight  on  the  hill  and  have  since  been  in 

296 


CAPTAIN  HICKS  297 

Boston.  I  was  penned  in  the  mill  and  would  have 
perished  had  you  not  arrived  as  you  did." 

"  A  likely  story,  indeed,  an'  ye  wearing  the 
color  of  the  king !  Dost  take  me  for  a  fool  ?  " 

"  Nay,  sir,"  I  said,  "  unless  you  are  willing  to 
condemn  a  man  without  fairness." 

"  Fairness!  "  he  thundered.  "  Who's  to  prove 
your  yarn?  " 

"Take  me  before  General  Putnam;  he  knows 
me,  and  — " 

"  I  ought  to  take  ye  to  the  nearest  tree  an'  hang 
ye  with  the  other  —  only  I'm  not  so  bloodthirsty. 
If  Putnam  knows  ye  I'll  give  ye  the  chance  to  — " 

"An'  I  knows  him,  sah!  "  put  in  a  voice.  "  I 
swar  to  him !  He  ain't  no  real  sojer !  " 

I  turned  on  my  knees  to  which  I  had  arisen,  and 
saw  breaking  through  the  group  one  whom  I  at 
once  recognized,  albeit  I  had  never  seen  him  in 
broad  daylight.  It  was  Letty's  brother  —  the 
negro,  George  —  who  had  jumped  from  the  boat 
the  night  I  escaped  by  swimming. 

'  Yes,  sah,"  he  continued,  his  black  eyes  snap 
ping,  "  he  was  with  me,  Cap'n,  that  time  I  tole  you 
about." 

"  Stand  up,"  commanded  the  officer;  "we  will 
look  into  this." 

"  Investigation  is  all  I  ask,"  I  returned. 
"What  has  become  of  the  British?" 

"  All  gone  save  seven  past  praying  for,  and  two 
or  three  we  caught.  Do  you  yield  yourself?  " 


298          THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

"  Willingly,"  I  replied;  "but  I  hope  you  have 
not  overlooked  the  greatest  villain  of  the  lot.  He 
was  not  in  uniform." 

"  The  bulk  of  the  force  was  driven  to  their 
boats,  and  escaped;  so  I  know  nothing  of  the  man 
ye  mean,"  was  the  answer.  "  But  we  have 
hanged  the  miller  —  he  being  a  blatant  Tory,  and 
he  shot  one  of  my  men  in  the  back  as  he  drank 
water  at  the  well.  We  have  also  his  apprentice, 
found  hiding  in  the  house,  though  as  he  was  suf 
fering  from  a  broken  arm  he  was  a  non-combatant. 
Still,  I  am  suspicious  of  him  —  he  looks  little  like  a 
miller." 

"  And  have  you  discovered  no  lady?  "  I  asked, 
hoping  he  had  found  Louise. 

"  Ay,  the  miller's  daughter,  caught  in  the  gar 
ret,  where  she  had  locked  herself;  an'  there  was 
the  dead  body  of  an  officer  in  the  house,  along  with 
a  wounded  lobsterback." 

'  The  last  being  my  work,"  I  put  in. 

"  Well,"  he  returned,  "  I  am  going  to  take 
George's  word  for  ye,  if  ye  will  give  yer  parole. 
We  are  in  something  of  a  hurry." 

"  I  will  give  you  my  word,"  I  said.  "  And 
now,  may  I  ask  who  you  are?  " 

"  I  am  Captain  Hicks,  of  Ward's  command." 

"  And  I  am  Allan  Darcy,  of  Barrington.      I  — " 

:'  Darcy,  of  Barrington !  "  he  exclaimed.  "  Art 
the  man  who  made  the  judge  dance  from  the 
bench?  Faith,  I've  heard  of  ye!  " 


CAPTAIN  HICKS  299; 

"  I  had  a  hand  in  it,"  I  returned. 

"Yes,  sah,  dat's  de  name,  sah!"  put  in  the 
negro  in  unrebuked  carelessness  of  military  disci 
pline.  "  He's  Darcy,  shore  'nuf.  You  remember 
me,  sah?  " 

"  I  know  you  well,  George,  and  am  heavily  in 
your  debt,"  I  replied.  "  As  for  that  same  judge," 
I  continued,  "  his  name  is  Evers,  and  by  chance  he 
was  with  this  British  expedition,  and  must  be  some 
where  about  unless  he  escaped  to  the  boats.  He 
did  not  know  me.  It  all  seems  like  a  special 
providence  !  I  am  yet  dazed  by  it !  " 

Hicks  held  out  his  hand.  "  I've  seen  none 
lookin'  like  a  judge;  but,  by  the  Lord!  I  be  more 
than  pleased  to  have  done  ye  a  sarvice,"  he  said, 
with  a  hearty  ring  in  his  voice.  "  We  are  but  a 
bushwhackin'  party,"  he  continued,  "  an'  likely  on 
the  same  errand  as  the  British,  an'  by  luck  we  out 
numbered  them.  It  was  the  smoke  o'  the  mill 
that  brought  us  to  this  spot.  Ye  certainly  look 
as  though  ye  had  seen  hard  sarvice.  Give  me  an 
outline  o'  what  has  happened  here." 

And  I  did  so,  growing  stronger  as  I  noticed  the 
interest  of  the  group  that  pressed  around  us  as  I 
talked.  I  made  a  graphic  picture  of  all  that  had* 
happened,  going  back  to  where  I  escaped  from  the 
hound,  leaving  out  no  detail.  When  I  had  fin 
ished,  the  captain  gave  his  leather-covered  thigh  a 
resounding  slap,  and  exclaimed: 

"  By  the  piper  that  played  before  Moses  I  but 


300         THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

the  apprentice  can  be  none  other  than  this  same 
Brussel.  And,  mayhap,  we  may  yet  find  his 
honor,  the  judge;  for  in  the  panic  of  retreat  the 
lobsterbacks  would  hardly  tarry  to  save  him. 
Come  with  me,  sir.  Come  with  me." 

He  led  the  way  toward  the  miller's  house,  I 
walking  weakly,  still  suffering  from  shock,  and 
Hicks's  men  trailing  behind  in  absolute  disorder. 
As  we  passed  the  mill,  the  roof,  from  which  the 
flames  were  now  soaring,  fell  in  with  a  crash.  I 
shuddered  to  think  what  my  fate  would  have  been 
had  not  the  American  party  arrived  as  it  did;  ten 
minutes'  delay  would  have  cost  me  my  life. 

This  was  war,  and  a  fuller  realization  of  it  was 
forced  on  me  in  a  gruesome  fashion  as  we  neared 
the  house,  for  there,  hanging  to  a  tree  in  front  of 
his  own  door,  was  the  miller,  a  stout  man  whom  I 
had  not  seen,  his  body  slowly  turning  with  the 
stretch  of  the  rope. 

And  on  the  porch,  looking  calmly  at  the  swing 
ing  figure,  stood  Brussel  and  three  British  regulars, 
a  number  of  men  guarding  them,  while  on  the  grass 
lay  a  row  of  dead  men,  not  all  in  uniform. 

I  turned  from  the  last  and  met  the  eye  of  my 
enemy.  He  had  acted  unconcernedly  up  to  then, 
and  had  I  not  appeared,  the  chances  are  that  he 
would  have  been  set  free;  but  he  lost  his  air  of 
ease  as  he  saw  me.  I  thought  the  man  would  fall 
backward,  he  was  so  staggered  at  my  advent,  un 
doubtedly  believing  me  to  have  perished.  I  did 


CAPTAIN  HICKS  301 

not  taunt  him,  but  walking  up  to  him  and  looking 
him  in  the  eye,  I  said: 

"  By  Heaven's  grace,  Hotfoot,  the  tables  are 
turned  again!  Where  is  Louise  Selden?" 

Instead  of  answering  he  stared  blankly  at  me, 
his  lips  moving.  It  was  Captain  Hicks  who 
brought  him  to  his  senses. 

"  Speak  up,  man,  or  take  a  place  alongside  yon 
swinger.  Ye  are  a  British  officer  and  in  disguise. 
Are  ye  not  a  spy?  " 

"  Nay,  I  am  not,"  cried  Brussel,  recovering  him 
self.  "  Neither  am  I  within  your  lines." 

"  Ye  are  Captain  Brussel?  " 

"  I  am  Captain  Brussel." 

"Where  is  the  girl?" 

"  Within  the  house  —  or  was." 

"  How  long  since?  "  I  demanded,  in  wonder. 

"  For  three  days." 

"Then  how  did  I  hear  her  in  the  mill?"  I 
queried,  speaking  more  to  myself  than  to  him;  but 
he  heard  me  and  answered : 

"I  know  not;  I  heard  nothing  of  her!  You 
took  me  by  surprise,  else  we  might  have  compro 
mised  this  matter  and  — " 

"Compromise,  you  villain!"  I  thundered. 
"  There  is  but  one  way  to  compromise  with  thee  !  " 
And  I  turned  from  him. 

"  Are  you  going  to  have  me  hanged  offhand  and 
with  no  trial?  "  he  said,  an  appeal  in  his  voice. 

"  Do  you  forget  the  hound?  "  I  retorted. 


302          THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

"  Nay,  then,"  put  In  Hicks.  "  The  thing  is  not 
yet  plain  to  me.  I  will  put  ye  on  your  honor  not 
to  attempt  to  escape  or  do  violence  while  with  us, 
and  ye  will  return  with  us  without  trouble.  Do 
ye  accept  the  conditions?" 

"  Ay,  I  am  but  a  prisoner  of  war." 

"  Yer  standing  will  be  settled  elsewhere,"  said 
Hicks.  "  Mr.  Darcy,  come  inside.  I  think  ye 
have  business  up-stairs.  She  is  in  the  front  room, 
sir,  and  I  hardly  believe  ye  need  my  company." 

He  smiled  grimly  as  he  spoke. 

I  knew  what  he  meant,  and  turning  my  back  on 
Brussel,  I  hurried  into  the  little  building  and  up 
the  narrow  stairway  to  the  front  chamber. 


CHAPTER  XXVII 

THE    CLIMAX 

LOUISE  was  there.  She  was  sitting  on  the 
edge  of  a  bed,  wan  and  listless,  her  hands 
folded  loosely,  her  long  hair  streaming 
over  her  shoulders,  and  was  far  from  being  like 
the  beauty  I  had  known,  though  I  was  well  aware 
then,  as  I  have  since  proved,  that  the  glory  of  her 
sun  was  but  dimmed  by  the  cloud  of  circumstance. 
There  she  sat,  the  woman  who  had  saved  my  life, 
and  was  yet  to  rule  it,  and  she  was  all  unconscious 
of  my  presence.  She  turned  as  she  heard  some 
one  coming,  and  when  she  at  first  saw  me  she 
shrank  back,  an  expression  of  horror  crossing  her 
face.  But  in  a  moment  she  knew,  having  a 
woman's  instinct,  and  with  a  bubbling  cry  she 
opened  wide  her  still  lovely  eyes  and  held  out  her 
arms  to  me,  just  as  a  frightened  child  might  have 
done. 

I  am  afraid  I  took  advantage  of  that  moment  of 
weakness.  I  know  that  time  passed  without  my 
noticing  it,  and  I  came  to  a  realizing  sense  of  things 
when  Hicks  hailed  me  from  the  foot  of  the  stairs. 
"  Hi,  Darcy!  "  he  cried.  "  We  have  the  judge,  I 
think.  We  found  him  burrowing  in  the  hayloft 

303 


3o4         THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

in  the  barn.     Come  down  as  soon  as  may  be,  an' 
put  yer  mark  on  him.     He's  a  sorry  sight." 

I  saw  Judge  Evers  later,  and  he  recognized  me 
when  I  brought  myself  to  his  attention.  Indeed 
he  was  a  sorry  sight,  and  almost  a  mirth-provoking 
one,  but  he  abated  not  a  jot  of  his  dignity  though 
he  was  hatless,  wigless  and  covered  with  hay,  cob 
webs  and  dust.  For  a  space  he  ranted  at  me  in 
lofty  language,  assuring  me  that  I  would  yet 
weight  a  gallows,  but  I  had  nothing  to  say  to  him 
in  return,  only  identifying  him  as  a  king's  civil 
officer. 

"A  damned  uncivil  one,  to  my  mind!"  said 
Hicks.  "  But  he'll  make  a  good  exchange  for 
some  one,  no  doubt !  He  was  with  the  enemy,  an' 
so  I'll  hold  him." 

But  in  the  meantime  I  had  heard  part  of  the 
girl's  story. 

"  I  was  utterly  hopeless,"  she  said,  as  I  held 
her  close  to  me.  "  I  knew  he  had  brought  me  here 
to  get  rid  of  me  —  even  as  he  once  tried  to  get  rid 
of  you  —  for  I  had  told  him  I  was  going  to  Gen 
eral  Gage  and  state  my  case.  After  that  he  made 
no  pretentions. 

"  He  told  me  you  were  dead  —  that  he  had  seen 
your  body.  I  don't  know  why  he  selected  this 
place,  but  I  do  know  that  he  was  on  leave,  and  I 
learned  that  the  miller  was  an  old  friend  of  his  — 
and  a  brute,  swearing  he  would  starve  me  if  I  did 
not  consent  to  marry  Brussel.  And  Brussel  prom- 


She  held  out  her  arms  to  me,  just  as  a  frightened  child  might  have  done 


THE  CLIMAX  305 

ised  to  go  from  me  and  not  see  me  again  from  the 
moment  we  were  married,  if  I  so  wished.  He  was 
about  to  kidnap  me  once  before  —  the  time  I  es 
caped  with  you.  When  the  second  party  came  I 
was  taken  to  the  garret  and  locked  in,  and  — " 

"  Then  how  did  I  hear  you  calling  me  in  the 
mill?  "  I  interrupted. 

"  I  know  not  —  but  I  did  call  you  —  why,  I 
don't  know,  believing  you  dead,  but  I  remember 
it."  She  turned  crimson  as  she  confessed. 

"  It  will  forever  be  an  inscrutable  mystery,"  I 
said,  and  gathered  her  close. 

It  was  high  noon  when  Captain  Hicks  and  his 
force,  together  with  his  prisoners,  were  assembled 
on  the  north  shore  of  Hog  Island.  There  is  but  a 
channel  separating  the  island  from  the  mainland, 
and  this  is  no  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  mile  wide, 
though  through  it  the  tides  race  like  a  sluice,  and 
it  was  now  a  raging  torrent,  the  last  of  the  flood 
coming  inward  with  a  rush. 

A  number  of  cattle  gathered  by  the  raiders  were 
bunched  on  the  shore,  waiting  for  the  tide  to  turn, 
and  the  boats  which  were  to  guide  them  were 
drawn  up,  their  crews  ready  for  the  word  to  move. 

I  stood  on  a  rock  overhanging  the  water  with 
Louise  at  my  side.  Brussel,  being  on  parole,  was 
not  guarded  and  stood  some  ten  paces  from  us 
gazing  sulkily  at  the  diminishing  rush  of  water; 
beyond  him  and  seated  in  a  boat  were  the  British 


306          THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

prisoners,  closely  guarded.     The  dead  had  been 
buried. 

For  me  fortune  seemed  as  high  as  the  sun,  and 
I  could  conceive  of  no  danger  threatening  me  at 
that  time.  Within  a  few  hours  I  hoped  to  be  on 
my  way  to  the  home  of  Louise,  and  later  to  my 
own  home  with  her  as  my  wife. 

It  was  a  rosy  picture  we  drew  as  we  stood  to 
gether.  For  the  tenth  time  I  was  telling  her  of 
my  adventures  in  Boston,  adding  to  each  recital 
some  forgotten  detail,  and  was  just  describing  how 
I  obtained  and  where  concealed  her  money,  when 
I  became  conscious  that  Brussel  had  drawn  near 
and  was  intently  listening  to  my  words. 

I  ceased  speaking,  and  he  at  once  stepped  up  to 
me,  his  face  white  with  suppressed  rage. 

"  You  are  a  thief!  "  he  said,  the  words  hissing 
from  between  his  set  teeth.  I  laughed  in  his  face 
—  I  could  well  afford  to. 

"  You  think  you  have  won  over  me,"  he  went 
on  in  a  low,  menacing  voice.  "  You  are  mistaken. 
This  woman  is  off  my  hands,  thank  Heaven!  " 

"  Be  careful,  sir,"  I  said  meaningly. 

"What  have  I  to  fear?"  he  returned.  "I 
am  a  prisoner  of  war.  I  will  be  exchanged,  and 
then  my  uncle's  money  which  you  have  stolen, 
buried,  and  kindly  located  for  me  will  find  its 
owner.  I  am  my  uncle's  heir.  But  mayhap  you 
have  lied  about  his  death." 

I    was    astonished    at    this    outbreak.     I    had 


THE  CLIMAX  307 

thought  the  man  thoroughly  cowed,  but  I  was  mis 
taken;  he  was  bitterly  rancorous,  though  as  a 
paroled  prisoner  he  was  hardly  to  be  considered 
dangerous  for  the  present.  But  his  allusion  to 
Louise  angered  me,  and  I  thought  I  had  a  way 
to  make  him  wilt. 

"  Hotfoot,"  I  returned,  with  a  careless  laugh, 
"as  a  prisoner  of  war  you  may  be  exchanged; 
with  that  I  have  nothing  to  do;  but  that  you  will 
never  rejoin  your  regiment  save  to  be  drummed 
out  of  it  in  disgrace,  and  imprisoned  as  a  forger, 
you  may  be  certain.  You  would  not  care  for  the 
reception  you  would  receive  in  Boston." 

"  And  why  not?  "  he  asked. 

"  Because,  sir,"  I  said,  speaking  easily,  "  when 
I  had  the  fortune  to  rifle  your  uncle's  strong  box 
I  discovered  a  note  drawn  by  Colonel  Dalrymple, 
endorsed  by  you,  and  marked  a  forgery  across  its 
face.  Do  you  comprehend? 

"  As  soon  as  I  return  to  our  lines  I  shall  make 
it  my  business  to  transmit  that  paper  to  Colonel 
Dalrymple,  with  a  few  words  in  explanation  of 
how  I  came  by  it,  also  relating  the  conversation 
I  overheard  between  Dench  and  you. 

"  Now,  you  villain,"  I  concluded,  having  worked 
myself  into  something  of  a  heat,  "  you  see  how 
I  can  and  will  make  an  end  of  you  without  further 
soiling  my  hands.  This  may  teach  you  not  to  in 
sult  a  lady." 

The  man  had  stood  listening,  his  face  set  save 


3o8          THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

for  his  twitching  lips,  and  I  knew  I  was  causing 
him  agony.  For  a  moment  he  stood  immovable, 
then  in  a  quiet  voice  he  asked: 

"Where  is  that  note?" 

I  tapped  my  chest. 

"  Right  here,  Hotfoot." 

For  I  had  that  and  the  other  appropriated  pa 
pers  in  my  waistcoat  —  and  fortunately  in  that 
garment,  as  the  coat  I  had  thrown  off  in  the  mill 
had  been  destroyed.  The  words  were  hardly  out 
of  my  mouth  when  Brussel  made  a  grasp  for  my 
waistcoat,  which  was  loosened  owing  to  the  heat 
of  the  day;  his  hand  was  fairly  in  the  inside  pocket 
ere  I  was  aware  of  what  he  was  after,  but  I  caught 
his  wrist  and  held  him  before  his  fingers  could 
close  on  the  papers. 

He  was  too  desperate  to  let  his  attempt  go  as 
a  failure,  and  instead  of  breaking  away  and  re 
treating,  he  jerked  his  wrist  free  of  my  grasp,  and 
catching  me  by  the  throat,  put  one  foot  behind 
rne  and  forced  me  over  the  edge  of  the  rock  on 
which  I  was  standing. 

His  move  was  sudden  and  unanticipated  by  me. 
I  felt  myself  falling,  but  was  too  far  gone  to  re 
cover,  though  not  so  far  but  that  I  might  carry 
Brussel  with  me,  and  as  I  heard  Louise  shriek  I 
caught  the  officer  by  his  wounded  arm.  The  next 
moment  we  both  toppled  into  the  racing  tide 
sweeping  by  the  rock. 

If  ever  I  was  insane  from  anger  I  was  at  the 


THE  CLIMAX  309 

moment  I  plunged  under  water,  the  air-bubbles 
carried  with  us  roaring  in  my  ears.  Down  we 
went,  rolling  over  and  over,  and  I  knew  we  were 
being  swept  along  at  a  rapid  rate.  And  I  feared 
I  would  drown  ere  I  could  shake  off  the  man's 
hold  on  my  throat,  but  I  managed  it  at  last  though 
I  thought  his  grip  would  tear  it  open.  Once  free 
of  him,  I  came  up  gasping  for  air,  but  Brussel  was 
nowhere  in  sight.  I  had  been  carried  along  sev 
eral  rods  ere  I  reached  the  shore  and  scrambled 
up  the  rocks,  where  I  fell  exhausted. 

In  a  moment  Captain  Hicks  came  running  to 
me,  and  in  a  few  words  I  told  him  what  had  hap 
pened. 

"  The  man  has  broken  his  parole !  "  he  shouted. 
"  Look  for  him  to  rise,"  he  yelled  to  the  guard. 

At  that  moment  I  caught  a  glimpse  of  Brussel. 
He  was  two  hundred  feet  up  the  channel  and  was 
rapidly  being  swept  along  as  with  one  hand  he 
made  his  slow  way  toward  the  opposite  shore.  I 
pointed  at  the  swimming  man,  and  Hicks  caught 
sight  of  him.  Turning  to  one  of  his  company 
who  had  run  up,  he  said  quietly: 

"  Can  ye  pot  him,  Simon?  " 

The  man  made  no  answer,  but  stepping  for 
ward,  dropped  on  one  knee  beside  me,  cocked  his 
long  rifle,  and  took  deliberate  aim  at  the  small 
mark  made  by  Brussel's  moving  head. 

Then  he  fired. 

I  saw  my  old  enemy  rise  until  his  waist-line  was 


3io         THE  SPUR  OF  DANGER 

visible,  then  he  threw  both  hands  above  his  head 
and  disappeared. 

"  You  have  saved  him  much  future  suffering," 
I  said,  speaking  as  if  I  were  not  shocked,  and  then 
I  saw  Louise  running  toward  me. 

Her  eyes  were  wide  with  horror  as  she  came  up 
to  me,  and  before  the  whole  company  she  threw 
herself  into  my  wet  arms. 

"  God's  will  be  done  I  "  said  Hicks,  "  but  this 
is  a  fair  ending  to  a  bit  of  tragedy.  Come,  lads; 
I  think  we  may  go." 

Now,  to  you  who  have  been  interested  enough 
to  follow  my  fortunes,  and  the  tribulations  which 
tried  my  soul,  to  you,  I  say:  you  may  read  the 
history  of  the  brave  doings  of  the  patriots  around 
Boston  in  those  old  days  of  strife  and  hatred;  and 
you  will  see  that  mine  was  no  uncommon  cour 
age;  only  that  my  body  being  big,  I  could  stand 
more  than  most  men.  You  can  read  of  Gage, 
of  Evers,  of  Putnam,  Loring,  Crean  Bush,  the 
lowest  of  the  low,  and  others,  and  learn,  too,  that 
all  virtue,  truth  and  honesty  are  not  confined  to  one 
side. 

And  so  I  take  my  leave  of  you,  after  the  fash 
ion  of  the  town-crier,  with  — 

"  GOD   BLESS   THE   COMMONWEALTH." 
THE   END 


JOHN  FOX,  JR'S. 

STORIES   OF  THE   KENTUCKY  MOUNTAINS 

Hay  l»  had  wherever  books  are  sold.       Ask  for  Grosses  and  Dunlap's  list.     _; 

THE  TRAIL   OF  THE    LONESOME   PINE./ 
Illustrated  by  F.  C.  Yohn. 


The  "lonesome  pine"  from  -which  the1 
story  takes  its  name  was  a  tall  tree  that, 
stood  in  solitary  splendor  on  a  mountain* 
top.  The  fame  of  the  pine  lured  a  young 
engineer  through  Kentucky  to  catch  the 
trail,  and  when  he  finally  climbed  to  its 
shelter  he  found  not  only  the  pine  but  the 
foot-prints  of  a  girl.  And  the  girl  proved 
to  be  lovely,  piquant,  and  the  trail  of 
these  girlish  foot-prints  led  the  young 
engineer  a  madder  chase  than  "the  trail 
of  the  lonesome  pine." 

THE  LITTLE  SHEPHERD  OF  KINGDOM  COME 
Illustrated  by  F.  C.  Yohn. 

This  is  a  story  of  Kentucky,  in  a  settlement  known  as  "King 
dom  Come."  It  is  a  life  rude,  semi-barbarous;  but  natural 
and  honest,  from  which  often  springs  the  flower  of  civilization. 

"  Chad."  the  "little  shepherd"  did  not  know  who  he  was  nor 
whence  he  came — he  had  just  wandered  from  door  to  door  since 
early  childhood,  seeking  shelter  with  kindly  mountaineers  who 
gladly  fathered  and  mothered  this  waif  about  whom  there  was 
such  a  mystery — a  charming  waif,  by  the  way,  who  could  play 
the  banjo  better  that  anyone  else  in  the  mountains. 

A  KNIGHT   OF  THE    CUMBERLAND. 
Illustrated   by  F.  C.  Yohn. 

The  scenes  are  laid  along  the  waters  of  the  Cumberland* 
the  lair  of  moonshiner  and  f  eudsman.  The  knight  is  a  moon 
shiner's  son,  and  the  heroine  a  beautiful  girl  perversely  chris 
tened  "The  Blight."  Two  impetuous  young  Southerners'  fall 
under  the  spell  of  "The  Blight's  "  charms  and  she  learns  what 
a  large  part  jealousy  and  pistols  have  in  the  love  making  of  the 
mountaineers. 

Included  in  this  volume  is  "  Hell  fer-Sartain"  and  other 
stories,  some  of  Mr.  Fox's  most  entertaining  Cumberland  valley 
narratives. 

Ask  for  complete  fret  list  of  G.  &  D.  Popular  Copyrighted  Fiction 

GROSSET  &  DUNLAP,  526  WEST  26th  ST.,  NEW  YORK 


STORIES  OF  RARE  CHARM  BY 

GENE  STRATTON-PQRTER 

May  be  had  wherever  books  are  sold.     Ask  for  Grosset  and  Dunlap's  list 

LADDIE. 

Illustrated  by  Herman  Pfeifer. 

This  is  a  bright,  cheery  tale  with  the 
scenes  laid  in  Indiana.  The  story  is  told 
by  Little  Sister,  the  youngest  member  of 
a  large  family,  but  it  is  concerned  not  so 
much  with  childish  doings  as  with  the  love 
affairs  of  older  members  of  the  family. 
Chief  among  them  is  that  of  Laddie,  the 
older  brother  whom  Little  Sister  adores, 
and  the  Princess,  an  English  girl  who  has 
come  to  live  in  the  neighborhood  and  about 
whose  family  there  hangs  a  mystery. 
There  is  a  wedding  midway  in  the  book 
and  a  double  wedding  at  the  close. 
THE  HARVESTER.  Illustrated  by  W.  L.  Jacobs. 

"The  Harvester,"  David  Langston,  is  a  man  of  the  woods  and 
fields,  who  draws  his  living  from  the  prodigal  hand  of  Mother 
Nature  herself.  If  the  book  had  nothing  in  it  but  the  splendid  figure 
of  this  man  it  would  be  notable.  But  when  the  Girl  comes  to  his 
"Medicine  Woods,"  and  the  Harvester's  whole  being  realizes  that 
this  is  the  highest  point  of  life  which  has  come  to  him — there  begins 
a  romance  of  the  rarest  idyllic  quality. 
FRECKLES,  Decorations  by  E.  Stetson  Crawford. 

Freckles  is  a  nameless  waif  when  the  tale  opens,  but  the  way  in 
which  he  takes  hold  of  life;  the  nature  friendships  he  forms  in'the 
great  Limberlost  Swamp;  the  manner  in  which  everyone  who  meets 
him  succumbs  to  the  charm  of  his  engaging  personality;  and  his 
love-story  with  "The  Angel"  are  full  of  real  sentiment. 
A  GIRL  OF  THE  LIMBERLOST. 
Illustrated  by  Wladyslaw  T.  Brenda. 

The  story  of  a  girl  of  the  Michigan  woods;  a  buoyant,  lovable 
type  of  the  self-reliant  American.  Her  philosophy  is  one  of  love  and 
kindness  towards  all  things;  her  hope  is  never  dimmed.  And  by  the 
sheer  beauty  of  her  soul,  and  the  purity  of  her  vision,  she  wins  from 
barren  and  unpromising  surroundings  those  rewards  of  high  courage. 
AT  THE  FOOT  OF  THE  RAINBOW. 
Illustrations  in  colors  by  Oliver  Kemp. 

The  scene  of  this  charming  love  story  is  laid  in  Central  Indiana. 
The  story  is  one  of  devoted  friendship,  and  tender  self-sacrificing 
love.  The  novel  is  brimful  of  the  most  beautiful  word  painting  of 
nature,  and  its  pathos  and  tender  sentiment  will  endear  it  to  all. 


GROSSET  &  DUNLAP,      PUBLISHERS,      NEW  YORK. 


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